Photosynthesis in higher plants is the process by which they produce food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. It occurs in the chloroplasts, where chlorophyll absorbs sunlight. The process has two stages: light-dependent reactions in the thylakoids, which generate ATP, NADPH, and oxygen, and the Calvin cycle in the stroma, where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose. This glucose provides energy for the plant and is stored as starch. Photosynthesis is vital for plant growth and helps maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.