Prof. Rivera-Ferre holds an MSc in Animal Nutrition from the University of Aberdeen, a PhD in Animal Production from the University of Córdoba, and a PhD in Sociology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She is a Research Professor at the Spanish National Research Council in INGENIO (CSIC-UPV) and an Honorary Researcher at the University of Coventry. Prof. Rivera-Ferre has published over 145 works, focusing on society-environment interactions within agri-food systems, local traditional agri-food knowledge, climate change adaptation, food security, food sovereignty, and feminist and commons theories.

Her research experience includes roles at the Rowett Research Institute (UK), Alterra Research Institute and University of Wageningen (NL), the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and the Center for Agri-food Research and Development (CREDA-UPC-IRTA). She directed the Chair of Agroecology and Food Systems at the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia from 2015 to 2021.

She has contributed as a lead author to UN-led assessments, including IAASTD (2005-2008), IPCC AR5 (2010-2014), SRCCL (2017-2019), and IPBES nexus assessment. She was an IPCC Review Editor for AR6 (2018-2021) and a SAPEA expert on Sustainable Food Systems for the EU. Additionally, she participated in UN Women preparations for CSW66 and is the co-chair of the MEDECC Nexus report (2022-2024). She serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Food Security, Agriculture, and Climate Change European Joint Program Initiative (FACCE-JPI).