The term used for an organism that produces its own food is autotroph. Autotrophs can synthesize organic compounds from simple inorganic substances, primarily through the processes of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. In photosynthesis, commonly performed by plants and some algae, sunlight is utilized to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This self-sustaining ability supports food chains and ecosystems, providing energy and nutrients for other organisms that are unable to produce their own food, known as heterotrophs.