What term is used to describe organisms that can produce their own food?

The term that describes organisms capable of producing their own food is autotrophs. These organisms are able to synthesize organic compounds from inorganic substances, using either sunlight or chemical energy. For example, plants, algae, and certain bacteria are classified as autotrophs because they perform photosynthesis or chemosynthesis to create their own food.

Autotrophs play a crucial role in ecosystems as they form the base of the food chain, providing energy and nutrients to heterotrophs, which cannot synthesize their own food and must obtain it by consuming other organisms. Understanding the distinction between autotrophs and other types of organisms, such as consumers, helps clarify ecological relationships and the flow of energy through different trophic levels.