Which useful materials do people obtain from plants?

Plants are essential to human life, providing a vast array of materials used for food, industry, and medicine. Humans rely on plants for the following resources:

• Food and Flavorings: Plants serve as the primary source of nutrition, including grasses like rice, corn, and wheat, as well as various flavorings.1
• Industrial Raw Materials: Plants provide wood, resins, oils, and rubber. Vegetable oils are used in soaps, detergents, paints, and varnishes.12
• Fibers: Natural fibers from plants are used to manufacture fabrics, cordage, and paper.13
• Medicines and Chemicals: Many plants contain alkaloids, which have significant physiological effects and are used to create pharmaceuticals for pain relief, cancer treatment, and other medical conditions. Plants also provide insecticides.451
• Fuels: Plants are used as fuels and to produce biofuels such as ethanol.16
• Waxes: Certain plants yield waxes, such as carnauba wax and candelilla wax, which are used in polishes and coatings.7