Other Intangible Assets Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		$ 10,725	$ 10,750	$ 4,565
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(1,365)	(1,207)	(894)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		9,360	9,543	3,671
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		1,881	1,881	8,290
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill)		12,606	12,631	12,855
Total other intangible assets		11,241	11,424	11,961
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		10	10	146
Germplasm [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	[1]			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	0	8
Germplasm [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	[1]	6,265	6,265
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	[1]	(126)	(63)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	[1]	6,139	6,202
Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		1,956	1,977	1,977
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(293)	(268)	(182)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		1,663	1,709	1,795
Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		1,463	1,463	1,411
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(409)	(370)	(202)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		1,054	1,093	1,209
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		166	166	172
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(88)	(86)	(86)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		78	80	86
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		(231)	(207)	(135)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		244	268	340
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	[2]	400	404	530
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	[2]	(218)	(213)	(289)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	[2]	$ 182	$ 191	$ 241

[1] Beginning on October 1, 2019, the company changed its indefinite life assertion of the germplasm assets to definite lived with a useful life of 25 years.  This change is the result of a more focused development effort of new seed products coupled with an intent to out license select germplasm on a non-exclusive basis. Prior to changing the useful life of the germplasm assets, the company tested the assets for impairment under ASC 350 - Intangibles, Goodwill and Other, concluding the assets were not impaired.

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