How plants create food

Graphic

How plants create food

Plants use energy from the sun to make themselves food by converting CO2 from the air to sugar via photosynthesis. Plants release oxygen and lose water when they take CO2 from the atmosphere.

Inputs

Photosynthesis requires CO2, sunlight, water, and minerals.

Cross section of a leaf

Water

and minerals

Sunlight

Glucose

Oxygen

CO2

Water

OUTputs

Plants produce glucose and oxygen via photosynthesis.

Source: SRM360

How plants create food

Plants use energy from the sun to make themselves food by converting CO2 from the air to sugar via photosynthesis. Plants release oxygen and lose water when they take CO2 from the atmosphere.

Inputs

Photosynthesis requires CO2, sunlight, water, and minerals.

Sunlight

Cross section of a leaf

Glucose

Water

and minerals

CO2

Water

Oxygen

OUTputs

Plants produce glucose and oxygen via photosynthesis.

Source: SRM360

Inputs

Photosynthesis requires CO2, sunlight, water, and minerals.

OUTputs

Plants produce glucose and oxygen via photosynthesis.

Sunlight

Cross section of a leaf

Glucose

Oxygen

Water and minerals

CO2

Water

Source: SRM360

Published April 10, 2025

Citation

SRM360 (2025) – "How plants create food" [Infographic]. Published online at SRM360.org. Retrieved from: 'https://srm360.org/infographic/how-plants-create-food/' [Online Resource]

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