The part of a leaf where food is made is called the chloroplast. Chloroplasts are specialized organelles that contain chlorophyll, the green pigment essential for photosynthesis.
During photosynthesis, chloroplasts capture sunlight and use it to convert carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose, a type of sugar that plants use for energy. This process not only produces food for the plant itself but also releases oxygen as a byproduct, which is vital for most life forms on Earth.
Photosynthesis predominantly occurs in the palisade mesophyll layer of the leaf, which is situated just below the outer epidermis. This layer is packed with chloroplasts and is positioned to receive maximum sunlight. In essence, while chloroplasts are the specific organelles making food through photosynthesis, the palisade mesophyll is where this process primarily takes place.