Growing seaweed might sound low tech compared to the sophisticated systems that salmon farmers now have at their disposal. But, as David Aldridge’s article on the hatchery phase shows, it's far less simple than most people expect. The feature marks the start of a new series and Aldridge – who spent three years as a hatchery manager – is ideally placed to guide us through the phase’s key challenges and debates. As the series progresses we hope it will not only give guidance to those already acquainted with all things algal but also inspire investors and entrepreneurs to help clear the bottlenecks within this promising, yet challenging, space.