In 1985 Anita obtained a double Master degree from Wageningen University in Tropical Agriculture and Food Technology, and in 1994 she completed her PhD thesis, entitled “Ecophysiology of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea)“. Since 1995 she is a staff member of the Food Quality and Design group of Wageningen University. Her work in education and research is characterised by an interdisciplinary approach and the integration of natural and social sciences. At present, she is supervising PhD students from Benin, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.