What do autotrophs convert into usable organic material?

Autotrophs are organisms that create their own food using inorganic materials. The most common example of autotrophs is plants, which utilize photosynthesis to convert inorganic substances—primarily carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil—into glucose, a type of organic material that serves as energy and building blocks for the plant. This conversion process is essential for the food web, as autotrophs form the base by producing organic compounds that heterotrophs (organisms that cannot produce their own food) consume.

In contrast, organic matter, mineral resources, and fossil fuels represent forms of already synthesized or altered materials that do not directly illustrate the process of conversion performed by autotrophs. Organic matter is typically the result of decomposition or the remains of past life, mineral resources are naturally occurring inorganic substances, and fossil fuels are the remnants of ancient organic material transformed over geological time. Thus, the focus on inorganic materials is key to understanding the fundamental role of autotrophs in ecosystems.