What is the process by which plants and animals release stored energy from food molecules to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate)?

The process by which plants and animals release stored energy from food molecules to produce ATP is called cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is a series of metabolic reactions that take place in the cells of organisms, where glucose and other organic molecules are broken down in the presence of oxygen to produce ATP, carbon dioxide, and water. The three main stages of cellular respiration are glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation (also known as the electron transport chain). Through these processes, the energy stored in food molecules is gradually released and used to produce ATP, which is the primary energy currency of cells.

Cellular respiration