Vitória Cardoso got her bachelors’ degree in Business Administration from São Paulo State University (Unesp). During her undergraduate years, she studied the impact of the National School Feeding Program, which is a Brazilian food security public policy, on family farmers. She also holds a master’s degree in Agribusiness and Development from Unesp.  In her master’s research, she analyzed how meso-institutions impact family farmers’ participation in Coffee Geographical Indications.

She is now starting her Ph.D. in Sustainable Development Policy, Economics, and Governance, where she plans to continue to study smallholders’ development, institutions, and food labels. She is also interested in seed value chain development.