Dow AgroSciences
Former agricultural science subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company specializing in crop protection, seeds, biotechnology, and related agricultural technologies.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Dow AgroSciences LLC was the agricultural science subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, it developed and marketed agricultural chemicals, seeds, biotechnology products, and related pest-management technologies. Its portfolio included herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, seed brands, genetically engineered crop traits, specialty oils, and pest-control systems. The business operated across several agricultural segments rather than functioning solely as a conventional crop-protection company. Its crop-protection activities included herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide products, while its seed and biotechnology operations included brands such as Mycogen, Pfister Seed, PhytoGen, Prairie Brand Seed, Alforex Seeds, Dairyland Seed, and Brodbeck Seed. Dow AgroSciences also operated or commercialized technologies and brands including Sentricon, Vikane, SmartStax, Enlist, Profume, and Omega-9 canola and sunflower oils. A notable area of development was agricultural biotechnology. The company participated in the development of genetically modified crops and crop-protection systems, including the Enlist Weed Control System and SmartStax technology. In 2006, Dow AgroSciences announced that it had received United States regulatory approval for a vaccine against Newcastle disease virus produced in plant cells. This was described as the world's first plant-cell-produced vaccine to receive such approval from the United States Department of Agriculture's Center for Veterinary Biologics. The company also pursued regulatory approvals in China. In 2014, Chinese authorities registered the active ingredient halauxifen-methyl, associated with Dow AgroSciences' Arylex herbicide technology. The company had submitted Enlist Corn and Enlist Soybean for Chinese regulatory review in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Delays in the Chinese approval process affected the timing of potential marketing, sales, and distribution of those products in the United States and other markets. Dow AgroSciences ceased to exist as an independent Dow business following the 2017 merger of The Dow Chemical Company and DuPont. The agricultural operations of the combined DowDuPont were subsequently separated into Corteva, Inc., which began operating as an independent public company on June 3, 2019. Dow AgroSciences' agricultural business therefore became part of Corteva's agricultural portfolio. The Dow AgroSciences name is best understood as a historical operating company and brand rather than a current standalone corporation.
History
Dow AgroSciences was established in 1989 as the agricultural science business of The Dow Chemical Company. Its activities extended across crop-protection chemicals, seeds, biotechnology, agricultural traits, pest control, and specialty agricultural products. The company was headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and served agricultural markets internationally. Rather than limiting its portfolio to conventional pesticides, Dow AgroSciences combined chemical and biological research with seed and trait development. Its crop-protection portfolio included herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Its seed activities operated through multiple brands, including Mycogen, Pfister Seed, PhytoGen, Prairie Brand Seed, Alforex Seeds, Dairyland Seed, and Brodbeck Seed. The company also marketed or operated brands and technologies such as Sentricon, Vikane, SmartStax, Enlist, and Profume. In addition, it produced Omega-9 canola and sunflower oils. Biotechnology was an important part of the company's identity. Dow AgroSciences participated in the development of genetically engineered crops and crop-protection systems intended to give farmers additional weed-management or crop-performance options. The Enlist platform became one of its most visible agricultural technologies. The United States Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency approved the Enlist Weed Control System in 2014. The company had also submitted Enlist Corn and Enlist Soybean for Chinese regulatory review in 2011 and 2012. Approval in China was delayed, affecting the timing of commercial deployment and related marketing activity. Dow AgroSciences also developed products beyond field-crop weed control. In 2006, it announced United States regulatory approval for a Newcastle disease virus vaccine produced in plant cells. The approval, granted through the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics, was presented as a landmark for plant-cell-based vaccine production. In China, the company received registration in 2014 for halauxifen-methyl, the active ingredient associated with Arylex herbicide technology. The company was involved in a corporate transition during the late 2010s. In 2017, The Dow Chemical Company merged with DuPont to create DowDuPont. The agricultural businesses of the combined company were intended to become a separate agriculture-focused enterprise. In April 2019, Dow Inc. was separated from DowDuPont through a corporate spin-off, while the agricultural operations remained aligned with the agriculture business being prepared for separation. On June 3, 2019, that business became part of Corteva, Inc., an independent public agricultural company. As a result, Dow AgroSciences no longer operated as a standalone company, although many of its technologies, product lines, and historical operations continued within Corteva. The company also received negative attention in connection with an information-theft case. In 2011, the United States Department of Justice announced that Kexue Huang, a Cargill biotechnology specialist, had pleaded guilty to stealing information from Cargill and Dow AgroSciences and passing information to China. The reported activity took place from 2007 to 2010. The case concerned the conduct of an individual outside Dow AgroSciences' corporate management, but Dow was identified as one of the affected companies.
- 2019
Agriculture business becomes part of Corteva
[1]On June 3, the former Dow AgroSciences agricultural business is separated into Corteva, Inc.
- 2017
Dow and DuPont merge
[1]The Dow Chemical Company and DuPont merge into DowDuPont, bringing Dow AgroSciences into the combined company's agriculture operations.
- 2014
Arylex active ingredient registered in China
[1]Chinese authorities register halauxifen-methyl, the active ingredient associated with Arylex herbicide technology.
- 2014
Enlist Weed Control System approved in the United States
[1]The USDA and EPA approve the Enlist Weed Control System in the United States.
- 2012
Enlist Soybean submitted for Chinese review
[1]Dow AgroSciences submits Enlist Soybean for Chinese regulatory review.
- 2011
Enlist Corn submitted for Chinese review
[1]Dow AgroSciences submits Enlist Corn for review by Chinese agricultural biotechnology regulators.
- 2006
Plant-cell-produced vaccine receives United States approval
[1]The company announces USDA approval for a Newcastle disease virus vaccine produced in plant cells.
- 1989
Dow AgroSciences is established
[1]Dow AgroSciences is established as the agricultural science subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.
Products and positioning
Integrated agricultural science provider combining crop protection, seeds, biotechnology, pest management, and agricultural trait technologies.
Crop-protection system · 2014
Enlist Weed Control System
An agricultural weed-management platform combining herbicide products with compatible crop-trait technology. The system received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency in 2014. Enlist Corn and Enlist Soybean were also submitted for Chinese regulatory review, although approval was delayed.
Seed trait technology
SmartStax
A Dow AgroSciences-associated genetically engineered crop technology included among the company's agricultural biotechnology and seed offerings. It formed part of the company's strategy of combining crop traits with broader crop-protection solutions.
Herbicide technology · 2014
Arylex
A herbicide technology associated with halauxifen-methyl, an active ingredient registered in China in 2014. Arylex represented Dow AgroSciences' work in selective weed control and crop-protection chemistry.
Pest-management system
Sentricon
A Dow AgroSciences brand associated with termite and structural pest management. It was one of the company's named commercial brands outside its field-crop seed and pesticide portfolio.
Fumigant
Vikane
A fumigation-related product brand operated by Dow AgroSciences. It formed part of the company's pest-control and specialty chemical offerings.
Seeds and biotechnology
Mycogen
A seed and biotechnology brand associated with Dow AgroSciences. It represented the company's participation in commercial seed development and agricultural trait technologies.
Cotton seeds
PhytoGen
A Dow AgroSciences seed brand associated with agricultural seed products, particularly cotton-related offerings. The brand was among the company's named seed businesses.
Specialty agricultural products
Omega-9 canola and sunflower oils
Canola and sunflower oil products developed around high-oleic Omega-9 characteristics. These products extended Dow AgroSciences' activities beyond crop-protection chemicals and seed traits into specialty agricultural oils.
Agricultural biotechnology · 2006
Plant-cell-produced Newcastle disease vaccine
A vaccine against Newcastle disease virus produced using plant cells. Dow AgroSciences announced United States regulatory approval for the product in 2006 through the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics.
Controversies
2011
Information theft involving Dow AgroSciences research
The United States Department of Justice announced that Kexue Huang, a biotechnology specialist at Cargill, pleaded guilty to stealing information from Cargill and Dow AgroSciences. The reported activity occurred from 2007 through 2010 and involved passing information to China. The case concerned an individual accused of theft and did not establish wrongdoing by Dow AgroSciences.
Brand decisions
2019
Separation into CortevaM&ABackground
DowDuPont reorganized its businesses following the Dow-DuPont merger and the separation of Dow Inc.
Action taken
The former Dow AgroSciences agricultural business was spun off as part of Corteva, Inc. on June 3, 2019.
Aftermath
Dow AgroSciences ceased to operate as a standalone company, while its agricultural products, technologies, and operations continued under Corteva.
2017
Integration into DowDuPontM&ABackground
The Dow Chemical Company and DuPont combined their operations in a major corporate merger.
Action taken
Dow AgroSciences became part of DowDuPont's agricultural business.
Aftermath
The combined agriculture operations were subsequently prepared for separation into a dedicated public agriculture company.
2014
United States regulatory launch of the Enlist Weed Control SystemProduct launchBackground
Dow AgroSciences sought to commercialize an integrated crop-protection system combining herbicide and compatible crop-trait technologies.
Action taken
The USDA and EPA approved the Enlist Weed Control System in the United States.
Aftermath
The system became one of Dow AgroSciences' most prominent agricultural biotechnology offerings, while related Enlist crop products faced delays in Chinese regulatory review.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/dow-agrosciences · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled