Marta is a PhD candidate in Sustainability Transitions at ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon and a full-time research student at CEI, ISCTE, and MARETEC/LarSyS, Instituto Superior Técnico, under the support of an FCT Grant (2024.06107.BD). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (2019) and a Master of Arts in Development Studies (2022), from ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon. Her master’s thesis, entitled “What is the role of seed banks in food justice and socio-ecological transition?”, examined the preservation of plant genetic heritage and its relationship to food sovereignty in Portugal. Beyond her academic work, Marta has engaged in applied research and social initiatives. As Treasurer of the Portuguese Refugee Council, she was responsible for implementing food security and livelihood strategies for asylum seekers within the project “Acolher em Tempo de Pandemia” (PT/2021/FAMI/761). She also serves as a Coordinating Member of TROCA – Platform for Fair Trade, where she develops projects and research activities, disseminates knowledge to promote fair trade and social justice, and advocates for sustainable practices in food, agriculture, and the environment. Her work in this role involves lobbying activities and maintaining close connections with domestic concerns, European and international networks, and institutional and governmental stakeholders. In 2023, Marta initiated the Greening the Desert Oasis project, collaborating with an international team to address environmental challenges, foster agricultural sustainability, and combat desertification in the village of Tagounite, in the Zagora region of Morocco. This initiative reflects her broader commitment to advancing socio-ecological transitions through both academic inquiry and practical engagement.