ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s food security ministry announced on Wednesday that it had finalized a “landmark” Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) with a Chinese company to export high-value buffalo genetic material to China, saying that annual exports were expected to reach $25 million.
Pakistan and China have already been cooperating in buffalo embryo technology and breeding programs in recent years, including commercial exports of embryos from Pakistan’s prized Neeli Ravi buffalo breed to China. Chinese demand for dairy genetics has grown alongside efforts to improve milk production and livestock productivity through advanced breeding technologies.
The deal was finalized between Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security & Research and the publicly traded company, Royal Group of the People’s Republic of China.
The Pakistani ministry said as per the agreement, the Royal Group of China has established a state-of-the-art embryo, semen and ova production facility in Pakistan. The facility will be responsible for the collection, processing and export of buffalo genetic material, including embryos, semen and sexed semen to China, it added.
“Annual exports of buffalo embryos, semen and sexed semen are expected to reach approximately $25 million, generating valuable foreign exchange and opening new international markets for Pakistan’s livestock industry,” the ministry said.
It added that as per initial projections, China will immediately import buffalo embryos worth approximately $5 million from Pakistan.
Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain noted that Pakistani buffaloes are recognized for their superior milk production and genetic characteristics worldwide.
“He emphasized that the agreement will help position Pakistani buffalo genetics as an internationally recognized brand while creating significant opportunities for livestock farmers, breeders and researchers across the country,” the statement added.
Hussain said the agreement ensures controlled access, regulated transfer and protection against misuse or unauthorized exploitation of the buffalo genetics.
“A key feature of the agreement is the comprehensive protection of Pakistan’s intellectual property rights and national interests relating to its valuable buffalo genetic resources,” the press release said.
Pakistan first opened formal trade channels for buffalo embryo exports to China in 2022 after Chinese customs authorities approved imports of embryos produced in Pakistan through in-vitro fertilization technology.
In 2024, Pakistan exported 10,000 Neeli Ravi buffalo embryos to China in what officials described as the country’s first commercial buffalo embryo export deal. More than 400 calves have since reportedly been born in China through embryo transfer programs using Pakistani buffalo genetics.
