To conquer the technological bottlenecks of quality egg production, the group initiated the innovative study of eggshell ultrastructure based on the new concept of “corresponding characteristics between time sequence and space location”, and established the nutritional modulation technology of eggshell quality with micro-nutrients, which can decrease the broken egg percentage by more than 35 percent for laying hens in late production phase. The problems of albumin thining and shell life transience induced by non-soybean meal protein sources and reduced crude protein diet had been resolved by the interpretation of dose-response relationship between dietary amino acids and albumen protein quality. The cost can be lowered by 50–60 yuan per ton feed with this technology. The concept of designer eggs enriched with functional lipids was firstly introduced in Chinese market by Qi’s team. The integrative technologies covered with the enrichment of beneficial lipids and elimination of undesired ingredients in the egg yolk contribute to the invention of more than 10 kinds of designer eggs, which satisfy the diverse needs of various consumers. This scientific achievement was nominated as one of the Top 10 New Technologies for Chinese Agriculture issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Afairs of China in 2020. The technologies of the achievement are applied in over 55 million laying hens yearly, and result in significant economic, social and ecological benefits.

Efects of eggshell, albumen modulation and route for designer egg