Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and energy in the form of glucose. It occurs in two stages - the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent Calvin cycle. The light reactions convert solar energy to chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. These energy carriers are then used in the Calvin cycle to incorporate carbon from carbon dioxide into organic molecules to form glucose or other carbohydrates. Photosynthesis is essential as it produces oxygen and food for all living organisms.