v2.4.0.6

Impairment and Restructuring Charges (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	$ 77	$ 31	$ 18
Consolidation of operations in Brazil
Restructuring
Accrued liability related to the Brazilian restructuring	11
Selling, general and administrative costs
Restructuring
Pretax restructuring charges, including termination benefits	10
Cost of goods sold.
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	77
Restructuring
Pretax restructuring charges, including termination benefits	19
Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold.
Restructuring
Termination benefits paid	11
Termination benefits		16
Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | European oilseed processing and refining facility
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	42
Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | Write-down of an administrative office in Brazil
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	2
Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | Permanent closures of oilseed processing and refining facilities in Europe
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	9
Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | Long-term supply contract acquired in connection with a wheat mill acquisition in Brazil
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	9
Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | Write-down of an older and less efficient Brazilian distribution center
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	3
United States | Cost of goods sold. | Closure of an older, less efficient oilseed processing facility in the United States and a co-located corn oil extraction line
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	12
Agribusiness
Restructuring
Number of employees, termination benefit costs (in number of employees)	90		21
Agribusiness | Selling, general and administrative costs
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges		26
Agribusiness | Selling, general and administrative costs | Write-down of certain real estate assets in South America and an equity investment in a U.S. biodiesel production and marketing company
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges		26
Agribusiness | Selling, general and administrative costs | Consolidation of operations in Brazil
Restructuring
Termination benefits	3
Agribusiness | Cost of goods sold.
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	35	5
Restructuring
Pretax restructuring charges, including termination benefits	10
Termination benefits			4
Other restructuring costs			3
Agribusiness | Cost of goods sold. | Permanent closure of a smaller, older and less efficient oilseed processing and refining facility in Brazil
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges		5
Agribusiness | Cost of goods sold. | Permanent closures of oilseed processing and refining facilities in Europe
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges			16
Agribusiness | Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold.
Restructuring
Termination benefits		10
Agribusiness | Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | Permanent closures of oilseed processing and refining facilities in Europe
Restructuring
Number of employees, termination benefit costs (in number of employees)		48
Agribusiness | Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | Consolidation of administrative activities in Brazil
Restructuring
Number of employees, termination benefit costs (in number of employees)		47
Fertilizers | Cost of goods sold.
Restructuring
Pretax restructuring charges, including termination benefits	4
Fertilizers | Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold.
Restructuring
Termination benefits		3
Fertilizers | Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | Consolidation of administrative activities in Brazil
Restructuring
Number of employees, termination benefit costs (in number of employees)		96
Edible Oil Products
Restructuring
Number of employees, termination benefit costs (in number of employees)	411
Edible Oil Products | Selling, general and administrative costs | Consolidation of operations in Brazil
Restructuring
Termination benefits	3
Edible Oil Products | Cost of goods sold.
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	28
Restructuring
Pretax restructuring charges, including termination benefits	4
Termination benefits			1
Edible Oil Products | Cost of goods sold. | Smaller, older and less efficient oilseed processing plant in the United States
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges			2
Edible Oil Products | Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold.
Restructuring
Termination benefits		3
Edible Oil Products | Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | Consolidation of administrative activities in Brazil
Restructuring
Number of employees, termination benefit costs (in number of employees)		24
Edible Oil Products | Europe and Brazil | Cost of goods sold. | Reorganization of certain operations in Europe
Restructuring
Number of employees, termination benefit costs (in number of employees)		405
Milling Products | Selling, general and administrative costs | Consolidation of operations in Brazil
Restructuring
Termination benefits	1
Milling Products | Cost of goods sold.
Impairment
Pretax non-cash impairment charges	14
Sugar and Bioenergy | Selling, general and administrative costs | Consolidation of operations in Brazil
Restructuring
Termination benefits	3
Sugar and Bioenergy | Cost of goods sold.
Restructuring
Pretax restructuring charges, including termination benefits	1
Agribusiness and Edible Oil Products | Cost of goods sold.
Restructuring
Termination benefits			$ 8

X

- Definition

This element represents the number of employees for which termination benefit costs have been recorded in connection with a restructuring.

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 45, 46, 47

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- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period, comprised of costs associated with restructuring activities not otherwise specified in the taxonomy pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding a discontinued operation as defined by generally accepted accounting principles. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset and severance costs associated with established compensation plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 146

-Paragraph 20



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

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X

- Definition

Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs, excluding asset retirement obligations, associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a program that is planned and controlled by management, and materially changes either the scope of a business undertaken by an entity, or the manner in which that business is conducted.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

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- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding costs or losses pertaining to an entity newly acquired in a business combination and to asset retirement obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 95-3



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

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X

- Definition

Amount of cash paid in the period to fully or partially settle a specified, previously accrued type of restructuring cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 95-3



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 146

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X

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period for known and estimated costs of termination benefits provided to current employees that are involuntarily terminated under a benefit arrangement associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding costs or losses pertaining to an entity newly acquired in a business combination or a discontinued operation as defined by generally accepted accounting principles and costs associated with one-time termination benefits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5-8



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 146

-Paragraph 8-13, 20



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS146-1



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 112

-Paragraph 7

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