Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		$ 16,449	$ 16,334
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(706)	(389)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		15,743	15,945
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		11,750	11,781
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill)		28,199	28,115
Total other intangible assets		27,493	27,726
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		660	660
Germplasm [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	[1]	6,265	6,265
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)		4,825	4,856
Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		9,590	9,502
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(332)	(186)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		9,258	9,316
Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		4,479	4,364
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(265)	(144)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		4,214	4,220
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		1,112	1,117
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(48)	(26)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		1,064	1,091
Favorable Supply Contract [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		475	495
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(40)	(17)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		435	478
Microbial Cell Factories [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		407	397
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(7)	(6)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		400	391
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	[2]	386	459
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	[2]	(14)	(10)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	[2]	$ 372	$ 449

[1] Pioneer germplasm is the pool of genetic source material and body of knowledge gained from the development and delivery stage of plant breeding. The company recognized germplasm as an intangible asset upon the acquisition of Pioneer. 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.

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