What Does Producer Mean in Science?

Producer is a term used to refer to plants in science. Plants produce their own food using the energy of the sun, water and carbon dioxide in a process known as photosynthesis. This energy is eventually transferred to all other organisms as part of the food chain.

Some organisms are unable to make their own food. Animals that are unable to make their own food are called consumers. Consumers must get their energy by eating producers or by eating other animals that eat the producers. Consumers that eat producers are called herbivores. Consumers that eat herbivores are called carnivores. Consumers that eat both producers and consumers are known as omnivores.