Other Intangible Assets Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		$ 16,572		$ 16,153
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(1,953)		(1,651)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		14,619		14,502
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		11,105		11,551
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill)		27,677		27,704
Total other intangible assets		25,724		26,053
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		100	[1]	545
Germplasm [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	[2]	6,265		6,265
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		4,740		4,741
Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		9,310		9,325
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(884)		(744)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		8,426		8,581
Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		4,926	[1]	4,506
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(735)		(628)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		4,191	[1]	3,878
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		1,083		1,084
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(135)		(114)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		948		970
Favorable Supply Contract [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		493		475
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(136)		(111)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		357		364
Microbial Cell Factories [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		384		386
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(26)		(22)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		358		364
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	[3]	376		377
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	[3]	(37)		(32)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	[3]	$ 339		$ 345

[1] During the first quarter of 2019, the company announced an expanded launch of its Qrome® corn hybrids following the receipt of regulatory approval from China. As a result, the company reclassified the amounts from indefinite-lived IPR&D to developed technology.

[2] Germplasm is the pool of genetic source material and body of knowledge gained from the development and delivery stage of plant breeding. This intangible asset is expected to contribute to cash flows beyond the foreseeable future and there are no legal, regulatory, contractual, or other factors which limit its useful life.

[3] Primarily consists of sales and farmer networks, marketing and manufacturing alliances and noncompetition agreements.