Company Description
Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is described in its public communications as a global pure-play agriculture company. According to the company, it focuses on combining what it calls industry-leading innovation, high-touch customer engagement and operational execution to deliver solutions for significant agriculture challenges worldwide. Corteva highlights a balanced and globally diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital products and services as the core of its business.
The company states that it generates what it calls advantaged market preference through a unique distribution strategy together with this diversified mix of offerings. Its portfolio includes some of the most recognized brands in agriculture, and Corteva emphasizes a technology pipeline that it describes as well positioned to drive growth. Through this combination of products, services and technology, Corteva positions itself as working to maximize productivity for farmers while engaging with stakeholders throughout the food system.
Business focus and segments
Based on the company’s descriptions, Corteva’s activities are centered on three main areas:
- Seed – Corteva reports that seeds generate a significant portion of its profits. The company references advanced genetics and demand for its newest hybrids and varieties in its financial updates, and it has announced plans for a future separation where a seed-focused business (referred to as “SpinCo”) would concentrate on advanced genetics and emerging technologies such as gene editing, hybrid wheat and biofuels.
- Crop protection – Corteva also reports substantial activity in crop protection, including herbicides, fungicides, biologicals and other technologies to help manage pests and diseases. The company has highlighted demand for new products and biologicals in its crop protection segment, and it has introduced nature-inspired and natural-origin insect control solutions such as Goltrevo bioinsecticide and Varpelgo active, subject to regulatory approvals.
- Digital products and services – In its own overview language, Corteva includes digital products and services as part of its mix, indicating a focus on technology-enabled tools that are integrated with its seed and crop protection offerings.
Strategic direction and planned separation
Corteva has publicly announced a plan to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off, subject to conditions and approvals. One business, referred to as “New Corteva”, is expected to comprise the current crop protection business, with an emphasis on differentiated technology solutions, including biologicals, and a focus on operational excellence. The other business, referred to as “SpinCo”, is expected to comprise the current seed business, with a focus on advanced genetics and emerging technologies such as gene editing, hybrid wheat and biofuels.
In its communications about this plan, Corteva states that the separation is intended to create two distinct market-focused companies, each with its own capital allocation priorities and strategic direction. The company describes both businesses as farmer-centric and technology-driven, and notes that the separation is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026 if the required conditions are met. Corteva also notes that it may modify or abandon the separation before completion.
Innovation and partnerships
Corteva frequently emphasizes innovation in agriculture technology as a central theme. It references a significant research and development pipeline and describes itself as having launched thousands of seed and crop protection products over a multi-year period. The company also highlights collaborations that align with its focus on technology and nature-inspired solutions.
For example, Corteva has announced a multi-million-dollar joint venture with Hexagon Bio aimed at accelerating the development of new crop protection solutions inspired by nature. This collaboration combines Corteva’s crop protection franchises and natural product discovery capabilities with Hexagon Bio’s natural-product discovery platform, which uses microbial genetics, artificial intelligence, chemistry and synthetic biology to identify novel natural products.
In another example, Corteva and bp have announced a 50:50 joint venture called Etlas to produce oil from crops such as canola, mustard and sunflower for use in biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel. According to the announcement, Etlas is intended to leverage Corteva’s seed technology expertise and bp’s refining and fuel marketing capabilities to supply biofuel feedstocks, using crops grown on existing cropland between main food cropping seasons.
Nature-inspired and biological crop protection
Corteva has described new nature-inspired and biological products within its crop protection business. In its announcements, the company has outlined:
- Goltrevo bioinsecticide – A microbial-based solution of natural origin designed to combat certain sap-feeding and chewing insects. It is based on a novel strain of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana 203. The company notes that Goltrevo is the first bioinsecticide in its Biologicals portfolio and is intended to target pests such as whiteflies, aphids, corn leafhoppers and various chewing insects, subject to regulatory approvals.
- Varpelgo active – A next-generation insecticide described as naturally inspired and developed by studying the structure and function of a naturally occurring active ingredient (Qalcova active). It is intended to control chewing pests in fruits, vegetables, row crops and rice, and to offer a seed-applied technology option to protect seeds and seedlings from certain insects, subject to field trials and regulatory reviews.
These developments are presented by Corteva as part of its broader effort to expand its biologicals and nature-inspired crop protection offerings, and to integrate them into farmers’ pest management and insect resistance management programs where permitted.
Financial reporting and segments
Corteva reports its results through at least two major segments: Seed and Crop Protection. In its financial communications, the company discusses net sales, volume, price/mix and currency impacts for each segment across regions such as North America, EMEA, Latin America and Asia Pacific. It has highlighted volume gains in both segments, demand for new technology, and growth in biologicals and new crop protection products as key drivers in recent periods.
The company also provides guidance ranges for net sales and operating EBITDA, and discusses factors such as global crop protection industry volumes, pricing dynamics in regions like Latin America, and global corn area and production. These financial updates are furnished in Form 8-K filings and accompanying press releases, which outline segment performance and management’s commentary.
Capital returns, corporate actions and governance
Corteva has communicated that it returns capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. For example, the company has announced regular common stock dividends and has referenced cumulative cash returned to shareholders since 2019 in its financial updates. It has also highlighted cumulative research and development investment over multiple years.
In terms of governance and leadership, Corteva discloses executive appointments and transitions through Form 8-K filings and press releases. For instance, it has announced the appointment of a new chief legal officer and the planned retirement of a senior legal and public affairs executive, with details on roles, responsibilities and transition timelines.
Role in the agriculture sector
Across its public statements, Corteva positions itself as working with farmers and other stakeholders throughout the food system. The company describes its purpose as maximizing productivity for farmers and enriching the lives of those who produce and those who consume, with an emphasis on what it calls progress for generations to come. Its mix of seed, crop protection and digital offerings, along with joint ventures and collaborations, is presented as a way to address challenges related to crop yield, pest pressure and the need for sustainable agricultural practices.
Frequently asked questions about Corteva, Inc. (CTVA)
- What does Corteva, Inc. do?
Corteva describes itself as a global pure-play agriculture company. It focuses on seed, crop protection, and digital products and services that are intended to address significant agriculture challenges and support farmer productivity. - How does Corteva generate its business across segments?
In its financial reporting, Corteva presents results for two main segments: Seed and Crop Protection. The company has indicated that seeds generate a substantial share of profits, while crop protection contributes through herbicides, fungicides, biologicals and other technologies. - What is Corteva’s planned separation into two companies?
Corteva has announced a plan to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off, subject to approvals and conditions. One business, referred to as New Corteva, would focus on crop protection and differentiated technology solutions, including biologicals. The other, referred to as SpinCo, would focus on seed, advanced genetics and emerging technologies such as gene editing, hybrid wheat and biofuels. - Why is Corteva planning to separate its seed and crop protection businesses?
According to Corteva’s announcement, the separation is intended to give each business a stronger strategic and operational focus, tailored capital allocation strategies and greater flexibility to pursue growth opportunities in its respective markets. The company states that both businesses are farmer-centric and technology-driven. - What types of innovation does Corteva emphasize?
Corteva highlights innovation in seed genetics, crop protection chemistry, biologicals and digital tools. It references a technology pipeline and ongoing investment in research and development, as well as collaborations such as its joint venture with Hexagon Bio for nature-inspired crop protection solutions and its Etlas joint venture with bp for biofuel feedstocks. - What are Goltrevo bioinsecticide and Varpelgo active?
Goltrevo bioinsecticide is described by Corteva as a microbial-based solution of natural origin and the first bioinsecticide in its Biologicals portfolio, designed to target certain sap-feeding and chewing insects. Varpelgo active is described as a next-generation, naturally inspired insecticide developed by studying a naturally occurring active ingredient, intended to control various chewing pests and offer a seed-applied technology option, all subject to regulatory approvals and field trials. - How does Corteva approach biological and nature-inspired crop protection?
The company presents biologicals and nature-inspired solutions as an important part of its crop protection strategy. It references billion-dollar nature-inspired crop protection franchises, microbial-based products and collaborations that use microbial genetics and artificial intelligence to discover new natural products. - What is Etlas, the joint venture with bp?
Etlas is a 50:50 joint venture between Corteva and bp that has been announced to produce oil from crops such as canola, mustard and sunflower for use in biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel. Etlas is intended to combine Corteva’s seed technology expertise with bp’s refining and fuel marketing capabilities to supply biofuel feedstocks from crops grown on existing cropland between main food cropping seasons. - On which exchange does Corteva stock trade and under what symbol?
According to its SEC filings, Corteva’s common stock is registered on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol CTVA. - How does Corteva communicate its financial performance?
Corteva releases earnings and financial updates through press releases, webcasts and Form 8-K filings. These materials include segment results for Seed and Crop Protection, regional performance, guidance ranges and management commentary on market conditions and strategic priorities.