What type of organisms can make their own food?

Autotrophs are organisms capable of producing their own food, primarily through the process of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. They convert inorganic substances—like carbon dioxide and water—into organic compounds, using energy from sunlight or chemical reactions. This ability makes them foundational to ecosystems, as they provide energy and nutrients that support other organisms within the food web.

Heterotrophs, which depend on consuming other organisms for energy and nutrients, cannot synthesize their own food. Decomposers play a vital role in breaking down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem, but they also do not produce their own food. Parasites rely on living hosts to obtain nutrients, further emphasizing their dependence on other organisms for sustenance. Only autotrophs possess the capability to generate food independently, which is essential for sustaining life on Earth.