The main input of photosynthesis is carbon dioxide, which plants absorb from the atmosphere through small pores in their leaves known as stomata. In the presence of sunlight, plants use chlorophyll to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The process occurs in the chloroplasts, where sunlight energy drives the conversion of inorganic compounds into organic molecules. This process is essential for plant growth and serves as the foundation of the food chain, as plants produce food for themselves and for herbivores and carnivores, thus powering ecosystems.