Creative and sustainable solutions to the world's food crisis are urgently needed.  Dr. Karen Jacobsen has volunteered on numerous USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer program assignments to work with dairy farmers in developing countries. USAID is the United States Agency for International Development (www.USAID.gov). 

Dr, Jacobsen first volunteered in December, 2007, to work with dairy farmers in the Black Sea region (western part) of the former Soviet republic of Georgia with the non-profit, ACDI/VOCA. She was sent back again in October, 2008 (just after the Russia/Georgia war). In August, 2010, another non-profit, CNFA, sent Dr. Jacobsen back to the country of Georgia to work with dairy farmers in the eastern region of the country.

In January and February, 2008, she was sent by Land O'Lakes International Development Division (another non-profit organization) to the country of Malawi in Southeastern Africa.  In these countries, she worked with small dairy farms toextend their dairy knowledge and expertise.  

In February, 2011, Dr. Jacobsen volunteered in Nicaragua via the non-profit, Partners of the Americas, for a Farmer-to-Farmer assignment working with numerous dairy and beef producers to help with cattle nutrition in a very arid climate.  

In October, 2011, she was sent to Egypt to work with many dairy farms and assist with animal health and nutrition. This assignment was sponsored by the Egyptian Milk Producers Association via Winrock International and ACDI/VOCA.

In March, 2012,  Dr. Jacobsen volunteered again in Nicaragua via Partners of the Americas, for a Farmer-to-Farmer assignment working with dairy farmers to help with nutrition and farm management.  She worked on farms near Leon, Camoapa, Rio Blanco, and Rivas, Nicaragua.  (See Sidebar for Feed Analyses from cattle feed samples from the 2011 and 2012 trips to Nicaragua.)