Other Intangible Assets Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		$ 10,725	$ 12,599	$ 12,599
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(1,365)	(2,025)	(1,862)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		9,360	10,574	10,737
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		1,881	10	10
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill)		12,606	12,609	12,609
Total other intangible assets		11,241	10,584	10,747
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)		54
Impairment of Intangible Assets Indefinite lived Excluding Goodwill After Tax		41
Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	[1]	1,871
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		10	10	10
Germplasm [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		6,265	6,265	6,265
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(126)	(380)	(317)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		6,139	5,885	5,948
Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		1,956	1,956	1,984
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(293)	(404)	(380)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		1,663	1,552	1,604
Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		1,463	1,485	1,451
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(409)	(565)	(525)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		1,054	920	926
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	[1]	166	2,013	2,019
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	[1]	(88)	(112)	(99)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	[1]	78	1,901	1,920
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)	(326)	(302)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		244	149	173
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	[2]	400	405	405
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	[2]	(218)	(238)	(239)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	[2]	$ 182	$ 167	$ 166

[1] Beginning on October 1, 2020, the company changed its indefinite life assertion of its trade name asset to definite lived with a useful life of 25 years. This change is the result of the launch of BrevantTM seed in the retail channel in the U.S. Prior to changing the useful life of the trade name asset, the company tested the asset for the impairment under ASC 350- Intangibles, Goodwill and Other, concluding the asset was not impaired.

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