The chemical process by which green plants produce food is known as photosynthesis. During this process, plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen, utilizing chlorophyll in their cells. Photosynthesis consists of two phases: the light-dependent reactions that capture energy from sunlight and the light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle) that synthesize glucose. This process is crucial for sustaining life on Earth, as it forms the basis of the food chain and produces the oxygen necessary for most organisms.