The main methods of generation and amplification for tunable ultra-short middle-infrared laser pulses, based on nonlinear optical parametric process, are introduced briefly. The technical characteristics of the parametric oscillator, difference frequency generation, optical parametric amplification and chirped pulse optical parametric amplification are compared. Focusing on both expanding the gain bandwidth and improving the output power, the latest developments in the field of ultra-broadband optical parametric amplification and optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification in the past decade are highlighted. In addition, the key issues and technology bottlenecks as well as solutions of access to high energy/power and short pulse (broader bandwidth) are discussed.