Once a biocontrol agent has been cleared from quarantine and mass rearing has begun, there will probably be considerable pressure to get the agent widely established as fast as possible.  It is important to distribute the agent as efficiently as possible to give it the maximum chance to become established. At the same time we need to think about future monitoring work which, in its most basic form, will measure the success of the release program and the overall progress being made towards achieving control of the weed (See Evaluation). Achieving wide distribution of the agent is a key to success in a biological control program.

The process of distributing the agent is to encourage its widespread establishment. Two important aspects of the distribution process are selection of release sites and the method of shipment and liberation.  Awareness campaigns also have an important role to play in this process.

Tony Wright