Cecilia graduated from University of Florence with a BSc in Science and Technology of Food at the University of Florence. She was awarded a PhD from the University of Córdoba conducting a study on hyperspectral techniques for food security purposes (SAFEED European Project, VI Framework Programme). During the investigation she has had the opportunity to visit several European research centers and to carry out scientific studies published in international journals. She also has background in international development cooperation. She formerly worked for a project on cooperation for development in Ecuador and Peru and as development project manager in Spain.