Mature oocytes are rare and precious cells. A technology which generates larger numbers would be very welcome in clinical practice, animal production technology and research. Since de-novo formation of female germ cells has ceased by the time of birth, the most attractive strategy, in theory, is to harvest and culture primordial follicles, the most abundant stage in the ovary at all ages. So far, there has been more success with cryopreservation of primordial follicles than with culture, and frozen–thawed ovarian tissue grafts have restored fertility to a number of species after oophorectomy. However, in-vitro development of isolated follicles is not sustained beyond the primary follicle stage. To meet their requirements for growth, metabolism and differentiation, a multistage protocol will probably be required for the prolonged period of development to maturity. The mouse is the only model, to date, in which a live offspring has ever been produced after growing follicles completely in vitro. A triple-stage process was required, involving culture of ovarian explants followed by isolation of granulosa–oocyte complexes and, finally, suitable conditions for completing meiotic maturation. Achievement of this goal for the larger and more slowly developing follicles from human and farm animal ovaries is still a remote possibility.