Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		$ 4,518		$ 4,152	$ 4,099
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(968)		(820)	(619)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		3,550		3,332	3,480
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		8,282		8,723	8,838
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill)		12,800		12,875	12,937
Total other intangible assets		11,832		12,055	12,318
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		146	[1]	576	691
Germplasm [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	[2]	6,265		6,265	6,265
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		1,871		1,871	1,871
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		0		11	11
Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		1,981		1,985	1,990
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(211)		(154)	(97)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		1,770		1,831	1,893
Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		1,467	[1]	974	924
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(297)	[1]	(163)	(97)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		1,170	[1]	811	827
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		166		180	180
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(83)		(92)	(79)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		83		88	101
Favorable Supply Contract [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		475		475	475
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(159)		(111)	(64)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		316		364	411
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	[3]	429		538	530
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	[3]	(218)		(300)	(282)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	[3]	$ 211		$ 238	$ 248

[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.