Biological control by augmentation is an important option for using indigenous and exotic beneficial arthropods to suppress pests. Effective use of this approach, however, will require increasing attention to the agricultural context in which it is applied. Cropping systems and other environments, from fields to feedlots to forests, must be evaluated relative to a broad spectrum of pest control options and constraints. Research and development to augment natural enemies will strengthen existing approaches to biological control and complement advances in biological control technology. Private industry will be involved increasingly in production and marketing of imported and native natural enemies: small businesses will satisfy specific needs in local areas and specialized cropping systems, whereas large corporations will supply natural enemies for wholesale distribution and large-scale application. Publicly funded research will continue to provide new techniques and other knowledge for developing augmentative biological control and incorporating it into integrated pest management (IPM). Augmentation must be developed as a target-specific delivery system that fits efficiently into evolving IPM practices.