Autotrophs are described as producers. This is because they are able to produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. They are the base of the food chain and provide food for all other organisms in the ecosystem. Unlike consumers that consume other organisms for their food, and decomposers that break down dead organisms, autotrophs are able to produce their own organic molecules from inorganic substances in the environment, making them an essential component of the ecosystem.