Autotrophic organisms, also known as producers. It mainly includes green plants and many microorganisms. They can make use of sunlight, carbon dioxide in the air, water and inorganic salts in the soil to produce organic matter through biological processes such as photosynthesis, and provide material and energy for the lives of various organisms in the ecosystem. Producers' materials are transferred to consumers by being consumed by consumers, and at the same time, some energy is transferred.

Autotrophic organisms generally have no digestive function, so they cannot swallow other organisms (such as animals and fungi). Therefore, autotrophs use other methods to maintain life, such as photosynthesis used by plants. However, plants still need water, visible light and carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis, which does not mean that plants are autotrophic biota, because these three conditions are the basic conditions of life.