Which process allows producers to synthesize organic compounds using light energy?

The correct answer, photosynthesis, is the process by which producers, such as plants and some algae, convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in organic compounds. During photosynthesis, these organisms use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil. The chlorophyll in their cells absorbs sunlight, which powers a series of chemical reactions that transform these raw materials into glucose and oxygen. This not only provides energy for the producers themselves but also forms the base of the food chain, as these organic compounds become food for various consumers in the ecosystem.

In contrast, respiration is a process that occurs in cells to break down glucose for energy, while fermentation is an anaerobic process for energy production in the absence of oxygen, and decomposition involves the breakdown of dead organic material. None of these processes utilize light energy to create organic compounds in the way that photosynthesis does.