What raw materials do plants need to make their own food?

Plants require three main raw materials to make their own food through the process of photosynthesis: sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. Sunlight is absorbed by the chlorophyll in plant cells and provides the energy needed for photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is taken in from the air through small openings in the leaves called stomata. Water is absorbed by the plant's roots from the soil and transported to the leaves for photosynthesis to occur.