Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net (2016 Restructuring Program schedule )(Details) - 2016 Restructuring Program [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve		$ 199	$ 199	$ 680
Restructuring reserve, payments			(360)
Restructuring reserve, net translation adjustment			3
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		17	(71)
Restructuring reserve, asset write-offs			(53)
Severance and Related Benefit Costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve		181	181	648
Restructuring reserve, payments			(335)
Restructuring reserve, net translation adjustment			3
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment			(135)
Restructuring reserve, asset write-offs			0
Asset Related Charges [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve		0	0	0
Restructuring reserve, payments			0
Restructuring reserve, net translation adjustment			0
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment			53
Restructuring reserve, asset write-offs			(53)
Other Non-Personnel Charges [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve	[1]	18	18	$ 32
Restructuring reserve, payments	[1]		(25)
Restructuring reserve, net translation adjustment	[1]		0
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment	[1]		11
Restructuring reserve, asset write-offs	[1]		0
Agriculture [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		13	29
Electronics & Communications [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		2	(13)
Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		0	(4)
Nutrition & Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		1	(12)
Performance Materials [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		(2)	(7)
Protection Solutions [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		0	(10)
Other Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		0	3
Corporate Expenses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		3	(57)
Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		14	(74)
Other (loss) income, net [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		$ 3	$ 3

[1] Other non-personnel charges consist of contractual obligation costs.