The C3 pathway is a crucial process in photosynthesis, primarily found in plants like wheat and rice. It involves the conversion of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into organic compounds, specifically glucose, using sunlight. This process occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells and is essential for producing energy and food for the plant. In the C3 pathway, carbon dioxide is first fixed into a three-carbon compound called 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA). This compound is then converted into glucose through a series of enzymatic reactions. The efficiency of the C3 pathway can be affected by environmental factors such as temperature and light intensity.