Corteva
Corteva is a U.S. agricultural-science company specializing in seeds, crop protection products, and biological solutions.
Last updated August 27, 2026
Overview
Corteva, Inc., also marketed as Corteva Agriscience, is an American agricultural-science company focused on seeds, crop protection, and biological products. It was created within DowDuPont after the 2017 merger of Dow Chemical and DuPont, with the agriculture operations of the combined company organized under the Corteva name in 2018. Corteva subsequently became an independent public company when DowDuPont completed the separation of its agriculture business in June 2019. The company traces its corporate predecessor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, which was renamed EIDP, Inc. in 2023 after the separation process. Corteva operates across the agricultural input chain. Its seed activities include corn, soybean, wheat, sunflower, canola, and other crop genetics, with Pioneer Hi-Bred International serving as its principal seed brand. Its crop-protection portfolio includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and related technologies designed to control weeds, insects, and plant diseases. The company also has been expanding biologicals, including microbial and naturally derived products intended to complement or reduce reliance on conventional chemical inputs. Its products are sold in approximately 110 countries, subject to national registration and regulatory requirements. The business was formed to combine DuPont’s agricultural genetics and crop-protection capabilities in a dedicated company. Its strategy has included development of genetically engineered and conventionally bred seed traits, integrated weed-management systems, fungicides, insecticides, and digital or agronomic services. Important offerings associated with the company include Pioneer seed products, Enlist herbicide-tolerant crop systems, and crop-protection products addressing diseases such as tar spot, southern rust, and frogeye leaf spot. Corteva’s development has also been shaped by regulatory, environmental, legal, and animal-welfare controversies. It discontinued chlorpyrifos production in 2020 after declining demand and restrictions linked to concerns about neurological effects in children. Courts have allowed continued sales of Enlist Duo in the United States, while environmental groups have challenged aspects of the product’s potential effects. The company has faced litigation involving Bayer over soybean and corn technology and has been named, alongside Syngenta, in U.S. Federal Trade Commission litigation concerning pesticide discount programs and alleged barriers to generic competition. In 2023, Corteva acquired Stoller Group and Symborg to strengthen its biologicals portfolio. It later entered a partnership with BP concerning lower-carbon-intensity feedstock for aviation biofuel and acquired naming rights to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. In 2025, Corteva introduced Forcivo fungicide and confirmed plans to separate its seed and crop-protection businesses. The company therefore combines a global agricultural brand identity with a corporate structure that continues to evolve around genetics, crop protection, and biological innovation.
History
Corteva emerged from the restructuring that followed the August 2017 merger of Dow Chemical and DuPont. The combined company, DowDuPont, organized its agricultural activities into a dedicated business covering seeds, crop genetics, crop-protection chemicals, and related technologies. That agriculture business adopted the Corteva name in March 2018. The name was constructed from “cor,” associated with the Latin word for heart, and “teva,” associated with the Hebrew word for nature, reflecting an intended connection between agriculture, science, and the natural world. The business brought together several important agricultural assets. DuPont had substantial capabilities in crop protection, plant genetics, and agricultural biotechnology, while Pioneer Hi-Bred International was a major seed operation and became Corteva’s primary seed brand. The resulting company was designed to operate separately from DowDuPont’s materials and specialty-products activities and from the later consumer-facing DuPont businesses. In June 2019, DowDuPont completed the spin-off of the agriculture business, and Corteva became an independent public company. The separation designated the former E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company as Corteva’s corporate predecessor. That legal entity was later renamed EIDP, Inc. in January 2023. Corteva’s independent operating model centered on two connected areas: seed and crop genetics, and crop protection. Its seed portfolio includes major field crops and trait systems, while its crop-protection portfolio spans herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and biological products. The company’s Enlist system became a prominent part of its crop-protection and biotechnology strategy. Enlist crops are engineered or developed to work with herbicide programs including products based on 2,4-D choline and glyphosate. Environmental groups challenged the continued sale of Enlist Duo in the United States, arguing that the product could harm plants and wildlife. In July 2020, an appeals court allowed sales to continue, finding that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had appropriately relied on studies concerning the volatility of 2,4-D choline salt. Corteva also faced criticism over animal testing. In 2019, it commissioned Charles River Laboratories to conduct tests involving 36 beagles for a new fungicide. Following public opposition led by the Humane Society of the United States, the company agreed to stop the testing and release the animals to Michigan Humane for adoption. In February 2020, Corteva discontinued chlorpyrifos production. The decision followed declining sales and restrictions in the European Union and several U.S. states, amid concerns linking the pesticide to neurological problems in children. Legal disputes continued after the company became independent. Bayer sued Corteva in 2022 over alleged contractual breaches connected with the development and commercialization of E3 soybeans. Corteva responded with patent litigation alleging that Bayer infringed technology used in Enlist Corn, including a gene conferring resistance to herbicides such as Roundup. The proceedings were paused in 2025 while the U.S. Supreme Court considered whether to review a separate patent matter. Separately, the Federal Trade Commission sued Corteva and Syngenta over pesticide discount programs that it alleged restricted generic competition. A federal judge rejected a motion to dismiss in January 2024. Corteva expanded beyond conventional chemical crop protection through acquisitions. In March 2023, it bought Stoller Group and Symborg, strengthening its biologicals business and adding natural, microbial, and microbiological technologies. The company subsequently pursued broader sustainability-related activities, including a 2024 partnership with BP to develop lower-carbon-intensity feedstock for aviation biofuel. It also increased its local institutional visibility by acquiring naming rights to Indiana Farmers Coliseum. In 2025, Corteva launched Forcivo fungicide for corn and soybeans and confirmed plans to separate its seed and genetics operations from its crop-protection operations. The proposed separation reflects the different technologies, regulatory environments, and market dynamics of the two businesses. Corteva’s history therefore spans the legacy of DuPont agricultural science, the creation of a stand-alone public company, expansion into biologicals, and continuing portfolio restructuring in response to regulation, innovation, and changing farm economics.
- 2025Forcivo launched and business separation planned
Corteva introduces Forcivo fungicide and confirms plans to separate its seed and genetics activities from crop protection.
- 2024BP partnership and Indiana Farmers Coliseum naming rights
Corteva enters a biofuel-feedstock partnership with BP and obtains naming rights to Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
- 2023Biologicals acquisitions
Corteva acquires Stoller Group and Symborg to expand natural and microbial agricultural solutions.
- 2022Bayer-related soybean and corn technology litigation begins
Bayer sues Corteva over E3 soybean obligations, while Corteva brings patent claims involving Enlist Corn technology.
- 2020Chlorpyrifos production ends
Corteva stops producing chlorpyrifos following declining sales and regulatory and health-related controversy.
- 2019Corteva becomes an independent public company
DowDuPont completes the agriculture-business spin-off in June, making Corteva a separately listed company.
- 2018Corteva is formed
DowDuPont establishes Corteva as the dedicated company for its seeds and crop-protection activities.
- 2017Dow and DuPont merge
Dow Chemical and DuPont combine to form DowDuPont, whose agriculture activities later become the basis of Corteva.
Products and positioning
A global agricultural-science company positioned around improving farm productivity through crop genetics, seed traits, crop protection, and biological solutions.
PioneerSeeds and crop genetics
Pioneer is Corteva’s principal seed brand and one of the best-known agricultural businesses inherited from the company’s predecessor operations. It supplies genetics and seed products for crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, sunflower, and canola in multiple markets. Pioneer products are marketed through locally adapted varieties and hybrids, often combined with crop traits intended to improve weed management, insect protection, yield potential, or tolerance to environmental stress.
EnlistHerbicide-tolerant crop system
Enlist is an integrated crop system combining compatible seed traits with herbicide programs. Its best-known products include crops designed to tolerate herbicides containing 2,4-D choline and glyphosate. The system is intended to support weed control in crops such as corn and soybeans, while its use is governed by country-specific approvals, product labels, stewardship requirements, and environmental regulations.
ForcivoFungicide2025
Forcivo is a Corteva fungicide introduced for corn and soybean production. Its formulation contains flutriafol, azoxystrobin, and fluindapyr and is intended to address diseases including tar spot, southern rust, and frogeye leaf spot. Availability and approved uses depend on registration and labeling in individual agricultural markets.
Stoller biologicalsBiological agricultural inputs
Stoller’s portfolio broadened Corteva’s biologicals offering after the 2023 acquisition. The business is associated with biological and naturally derived products intended to support plant development, nutrient use, crop resilience, and other agronomic outcomes. Product composition and registered claims vary by market.
Symborg microbial technologiesMicrobial agricultural technologies
Symborg contributes microbiological expertise to Corteva’s biologicals strategy. Its technologies are based on microorganisms and related applications for crop production and plant performance. The acquisition provides Corteva with additional research, development, and commercial capabilities in microbial agricultural inputs.
Flagship businesses
- Pioneer seeds
- Enlist crop-protection and herbicide-tolerance system
- Forcivo fungicide
- Stoller biological products
- Symborg microbial technologies
Brand decisions
- 2025Launch Forcivo fungicideProduct launch
Corn and soybean growers face fungal diseases including tar spot, southern rust, and frogeye leaf spot.
What changed. Corteva introduced Forcivo, containing flutriafol, azoxystrobin, and fluindapyr.
Aftermath. Forcivo expanded Corteva’s fungicide offerings, subject to market-specific registrations and labels.
- 2025Separate seed and crop-protection businessesStrategy
Reports indicated that Corteva was evaluating a structural separation of its seed and pesticide businesses, which have different technologies, regulatory profiles, and market dynamics.
What changed. Corteva confirmed plans to separate its seed and genetics business from its crop-protection business.
Aftermath. The planned separation marked a significant strategic reorganization; the final structure and completion details are not established in the supplied material.
- 2023Acquire Stoller Group and SymborgM&A
Corteva sought to expand its emerging biologicals portfolio beyond conventional seed and chemical crop-protection products.
What changed. Corteva acquired Stoller Group and Symborg in March 2023.
Aftermath. The transactions added natural, microbial, and microbiological technologies to Corteva’s agricultural-input platform.
Stated acquisition price for Stoller Group. 1.2 billion USD (March 2023)
- 2020Discontinue chlorpyrifos productionStrategy
Chlorpyrifos faced declining sales, bans or restrictions in several jurisdictions, and continuing health-related controversy.
What changed. Corteva stopped producing the pesticide in February 2020.
Aftermath. The decision removed chlorpyrifos from Corteva’s production portfolio while the broader regulatory debate over the substance continued.
Controversies
- 2022Pesticide discount-program antitrust allegationsControversy
The Federal Trade Commission alleged that discount programs operated by Corteva and Syngenta could block or restrict generic competition in parts of the U.S. pesticide market. The litigation remained active after a federal judge denied a motion to dismiss in 2024.
- 2020Chlorpyrifos health and regulatory controversyControversy
Corteva ceased chlorpyrifos production amid declining demand and restrictions associated with concerns about possible neurological effects in children.
- 2019Beagle fungicide-testing controversyControversy
Corteva faced public criticism after commissioning regulatory testing of a fungicide on 36 beagles. Following opposition from the Humane Society of the United States, the company agreed to stop the testing and release the animals for adoption.
Recent events
- 2025Corteva introduces Forcivo fungicide
Corteva introduced Forcivo, a fungicide for corn and soybeans containing flutriafol, azoxystrobin, and fluindapyr, targeting diseases including tar spot, southern rust, and frogeye leaf spot.
Product launch - 2025Corteva confirms planned separation of seed and crop-protection businesses
Following reports that it was considering a breakup, Corteva confirmed plans to separate its seed and genetics activities from its pesticide and crop-protection business.
Leadership change - 2024Federal Trade Commission pesticide-discount litigation continues
A federal judge denied a motion to dismiss the FTC’s case against Corteva and Syngenta concerning discount programs that the agency alleges restrict generic competition in pesticide markets.
LawsuitRegulation - 2024Corteva partners with BP on aviation-biofuel feedstock
Corteva and BP announced a partnership aimed at developing lower-carbon-intensity biological feedstock for aviation biofuel production.
Other - 2024Corteva acquires naming rights to Indiana Farmers Coliseum
Corteva acquired naming rights to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Other - 2023Corteva acquires Stoller Group and Symborg
Corteva acquired Stoller Group and Symborg to expand its biologicals portfolio, including natural and microbial agricultural technologies.
M&A - 2020Corteva ends production of chlorpyrifos
Corteva stopped producing chlorpyrifos, citing declining sales after the pesticide became subject to restrictions and controversy concerning possible neurological effects in children.
RegulationProduct generation - 2020Court allows continued U.S. sales of Enlist Duo
A U.S. appeals court upheld the ability to continue selling Enlist Duo after environmental groups challenged the product’s potential effects on plants and wildlife.
LawsuitRegulation - 2019Corteva agrees to stop fungicide testing on beagles and release the animals
After criticism from the Humane Society of the United States over regulatory testing involving 36 beagles, Corteva agreed to end the tests and arrange for the animals to be released for adoption through Michigan Humane.
Other
Sources
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