Photosynthesis is a process by which plants on Earth convert energy from the sun, along with carbon dioxide and water, into food in the form of glucose. This process also releases oxygen as a byproduct. Photosynthesis is vital to life on Earth because it provides the primary source of food for organisms and creates oxygen, which sustains the atmosphere for many living beings.
Imagine you are a botanist from a distant planet, tasked with describing Earth's plant life to your fellow scientists back home. Explain what photosynthesis is and its importance to life on Earth.