• Question: Why do we need plants?

    Asked by natrualme to Jemma, John, Lisa, Sam on 1 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 1 Jun 2012:

      Hi @naturalme, great question!

      There are a couple of reasons why we need plants. Firstly they turn light energy from the sun into sugar which is a form of energy that we are able to use. We can’t make energy directly from the sun so we must eat plants, and other animals that have eaten plants to power our bodies. Secondly, plants are also able to make several nutrients that we can’t. To give my favourite example, vitamin A is made by plants. We can’t make it ourselves so we must eat plants to get these nutrients.

      They’re really rather useful in the end!
      Jemma

    • Photo: Lisa Fitzgerald

      Lisa Fitzgerald answered on 1 Jun 2012:

      Hi @naturalme

      Jemma’s given a great answer, but I’d also say that as part of the conversion of light to energy they use up carbon dioxide, a waste product from our breathing, and produce oxygen, something we need to stay alive…

      As Jemma says they’re pretty helpful!

      Lisa

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