Which term is used to describe an organism that makes its own food?

The term used to describe an organism that makes its own food is "autotroph." Autotrophs are organisms capable of producing their own nutrients from simple compounds, typically through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. For instance, plants are classic examples of autotrophs, as they convert sunlight into energy, using it to create glucose from carbon dioxide and water. This ability allows autotrophs to serve as the foundational producers in an ecosystem, forming the base of the food chain and providing energy for heterotrophs, which cannot produce their own food and rely on consuming other organisms.

While the term "producer" is often used interchangeably with autotroph in ecological contexts, the most specific term for an organism that can synthesize its own food is "autotroph." Thus, while producers and autotrophs are related concepts, "autotroph" directly references the self-sustaining aspect of their nutrition.