What do you call the process by which plants make their own food?

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of glucose, using carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil. This process primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll captures sunlight. During photosynthesis, plants release oxygen as a byproduct, which is vital for the survival of most living organisms on Earth.

In contrast, respiration is the process by which organisms—including plants—break down glucose to release energy for cellular activities. Digestion refers to the breakdown of food into smaller components so that it can be absorbed and utilized by the body, primarily in animals. Fermentation is a metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, allowing certain organisms to convert sugars into acids, gases, or alcohol. Each of these processes plays a role in life but is distinct from the method plants use to synthesize their own food through photosynthesis.