The term for organisms that can generate their own food is autotrophs. These organisms, which include plants, algae, and some bacteria, produce energy-rich compounds through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Autotrophs convert inorganic substances (like carbon dioxide and water) into organic matter, serving as the foundation of the food chain. This capability allows them to sustain themselves independently of other organisms for nourishment and is vital for supporting the entire ecosystem by providing food for heterotrophs, which cannot create their food.