Professional services
UnclaimedAn American agricultural-sciences company supplying crop-protection technologies and selected health and nutrition ingredients.
Last updated October 15, 2026
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Overview
FMC Corporation is a United States-based chemical company whose modern identity is centered on agricultural science and crop protection. Its principal agricultural portfolio includes herbicides, insecticides and fungicides used by growers to manage weeds, insects and plant diseases across major crops. The company also has activities in health and nutrition, supplying ingredients and functional materials such as alginate and pharmaceutical excipients, although agriculture has become the defining focus of its portfolio. FMC traces its origins to 1883, when chemist John Bean established the Bean Spray Pump Company in Los Gatos, California. Bean developed a piston pump for applying insecticide to fruit orchards, linking the company’s earliest machinery business directly to agricultural chemical use. The company expanded through acquisitions in the food-processing-equipment field. In 1928 it acquired Anderson-Barngrover and Sprague-Sells, businesses associated with canning and sterilization machinery, and adopted the name Food Machinery Corporation, using the initials FMC. The corporate name became Food Machinery & Chemical Corporation in 1948 and was shortened to FMC Corporation in 1961. During the twentieth century, FMC diversified well beyond agricultural equipment and chemicals. In 1941 it received a United States Department of War contract to design and build amphibious tracked landing vehicles. Its military activities later included production of the M113 armored personnel carrier and work connected with the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, as well as experimental amphibious systems such as the LVHX2 hydrofoil landing vehicle. The company also entered construction equipment through its 1967 combination with Link-Belt, manufactured firefighting equipment, operated metal and rail-equipment businesses, and explored recreational vehicles and precious metals. Many of these activities were subsequently sold, reorganized or spun off. The company’s portfolio was progressively reshaped in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Its machinery businesses were separated into FMC Technologies, while non-energy operations later became associated with JBT Corporation. Other divestitures included the Link-Belt partnership, the automotive-equipment business, lawn-and-garden equipment and the alkali-chemicals business. FMC also separated its lithium business into Livent in 2019. These transactions reduced the conglomerate’s industrial breadth and left FMC more concentrated in agricultural, health and nutrition markets. A major strategic step was the 2014 agreement to acquire Cheminova, an international crop-protection company. The transaction strengthened FMC’s agricultural-chemicals platform and supported its stated emphasis on agriculture, health and nutrition and lithium technologies at that time. In 2017, FMC acquired selected herbicide assets from DuPont in connection with regulatory remedies associated with the Dow–DuPont merger. These moves expanded the company’s crop-protection products and geographic reach. FMC operates in a business environment shaped by agricultural commodity cycles, regulatory review, resistance management, environmental expectations and changing farming practices. Its products are sold internationally, and its commercial proposition depends on research, formulation, registration and stewardship as much as on chemical manufacturing. The company has also faced environmental liabilities connected with historical industrial and pesticide operations, including sites addressed through the United States Superfund program. FMC remains a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker FMC.
History
FMC began in 1883 as the Bean Spray Pump Company in Los Gatos, California. Chemist John Bean developed a piston pump for spraying insecticide on local orchards. This origin established a lasting connection between mechanical application equipment and agricultural chemistry. In 1928 the company bought Anderson-Barngrover and Sprague-Sells, manufacturers associated with canning machinery and sterilization equipment, and changed its name to Food Machinery Corporation. The business adopted the name Food Machinery & Chemical Corporation in 1948 and became FMC Corporation in 1961. Its diversification accelerated during and after the Second World War. In 1941 FMC received a United States military contract to design and manufacture amphibious tracked landing vehicles. The company later produced military vehicles including the M113 armored personnel carrier and worked on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. It also developed experimental amphibious equipment, including LVHX2 hydrofoil prototypes for the United States Marine Corps. FMC’s industrial expansion included firefighting pumps and apparatus, recreational vehicles, construction equipment and metal and rail equipment. The 1967 combination with Link-Belt created a significant construction-equipment activity. FMC subsequently formed a Link-Belt construction-equipment joint venture with Sumitomo Heavy Industries, but ultimately exited that partnership. Its former Gunderson metalworks business was sold to The Greenbrier Companies in 1985, and its lawn-and-garden business was sold to Troy-Bilt in 1988. The firefighting-apparatus division was closed in 1990 after an unsuccessful effort to expand into aerial ladders. The company also developed a precious-metals business, FMC Gold, during the late 1980s and acquired Meridian Gold in 1990. In the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, FMC increasingly separated noncore operations. Its energy, airport and food-equipment businesses were spun off into FMC Technologies in 2001; FMC Technologies later became part of TechnipFMC after a 2017 merger with Technip. JBT Corporation was created in 2008 from FMC Technologies’ non-energy businesses. FMC’s automotive-equipment operation was sold in 1996 and later operated under the John Bean name. By the 2010s, FMC was concentrating on agriculture, health and nutrition and, for a period, lithium technologies. Pierre Brondeau became president and chief executive officer on January 1, 2010. The 2014 Cheminova transaction materially strengthened the agricultural portfolio. FMC sold its alkali-chemicals business to Tronox in 2015 and acquired selected DuPont herbicide assets in 2017 as part of merger-related regulatory divestitures. In 2019 it spun off Livent, its lithium business. FMC’s historical operations also generated environmental controversies and remediation obligations. Former facilities in Idaho, Minnesota, Washington and New York were associated with soil, groundwater or surface-water contamination and were addressed through regulatory and Superfund processes. The company has additionally faced scrutiny over the misuse of the Furadan pesticide to kill African lions in Kenya. FMC stated that it worked with officials and conservation organizations, ended sales in East Africa and implemented a product buy-back program. Today, the company’s public identity is primarily that of a global crop-protection and agricultural-sciences provider, with additional health and nutrition activities.
- 2019
Livent is spun off
[1]FMC separates its lithium business into Livent.
- 2017
FMC expands its herbicide portfolio through DuPont divestitures
[1]FMC agrees to receive selected sulfonylurea herbicide assets required to be divested in connection with the Dow–DuPont merger.
- 2014
FMC agrees to acquire Cheminova
[1]The crop-protection acquisition supports FMC’s strategic concentration on agricultural markets.
- 2001
FMC spins off FMC Technologies
[1]Energy, airport and food-equipment operations are separated into FMC Technologies.
- 1967
FMC combines with Link-Belt
[1]The transaction expands FMC’s construction-equipment activities, including cranes and excavators.
- 1961
The corporate name becomes FMC Corporation
[1]Food Machinery & Chemical Corporation adopts the shorter FMC Corporation name.
- 1941
FMC enters military vehicle production
[1]FMC receives a United States Department of War contract to design and build amphibious tracked landing vehicles.
- 1928
The company becomes Food Machinery Corporation
[1]After acquiring Anderson-Barngrover and Sprague-Sells, the company adopts the FMC name and expands into food-processing machinery.
- 1883
Bean Spray Pump Company is founded
[1]John Bean establishes the company in Los Gatos, California, beginning with a piston pump designed to apply insecticide to orchards.
Products and positioning
A global agricultural-science and crop-protection company with additional health and nutrition capabilities.
Agricultural chemicals
Crop-protection herbicides
FMC’s herbicide portfolio is designed to control weeds that compete with crops for light, water and nutrients. The portfolio has included products based on multiple active-ingredient technologies and has been expanded through acquisitions and regulatory divestitures. Herbicide use is subject to national registration, resistance-management requirements and stewardship obligations.
Agricultural chemicals
Crop-protection insecticides
FMC supplies insect-control products for growers seeking to protect crops from damaging pests. These products are marketed across different crops and regions and are supported by application guidance, resistance-management programs and regulatory controls. Historical products have included Furadan, whose misuse in wildlife poisoning generated significant public controversy.
Agricultural chemicals
Crop-protection fungicides
FMC’s fungicides are used to manage fungal diseases that can reduce crop yield and quality. They form part of the company’s broader agricultural-sciences offering alongside herbicides and insecticides. Availability and permitted uses vary by crop, country and regulatory registration.
Food and pharmaceutical ingredients
Health and nutrition ingredients
FMC has supplied ingredients and functional materials for food, beverage and pharmaceutical applications. Referenced offerings include alginate and microcrystalline cellulose, materials used for texture, stabilization, formulation and excipient functions. This business represents the company’s continuing presence beyond crop protection.
Industrial and food-processing chemicals
Food and poultry sanitation chemicals
FMC has marketed chemical products used by beef and poultry processors to reduce pathogens, including E. coli and Salmonella, on uncooked meat and poultry. The company has also held intellectual property relating to sanitizing processed poultry with aqueous acid solutions.
Controversies
2026
Veolia sues nine companies over PFAS contamination of Delaware drinking water
Veolia, an investor-owned drinking water supplier, filed a lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court against nine companies, alleging they contaminated Delaware drinking water sources with toxic PFAS chemicals and failed to prevent the chemicals from entering the waterways Veolia relies on to serve 100,000 New Castle County residents. The lawsuit seeks compensation for a $35 million PFAS treatment system and associated operating costs.
2009
Furadan and African lion poisoning controversy
A televised investigation reported that farmers in Kenya used FMC’s Furadan pesticide to kill lions. The issue raised concerns about product stewardship, wildlife conservation and the consequences of intentional misuse. FMC responded publicly and later withdrew the product from East African sales while arranging a buy-back program.
1989
Eastern Michaud Flats contamination
FMC’s former phosphate-mining and elemental-phosphorus operations on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Idaho were associated with land and water pollution. The site was designated for cleanup under the United States Superfund program, and operations were ultimately deactivated and abandoned in 2001.
1983
Yakima pesticide-site contamination
A former FMC pesticide-formulation plant in Yakima, Washington, was listed as a Superfund site after pesticide disposal was linked to soil and groundwater contamination. Cleanup actions included removal and treatment of contaminated soil.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Furadan wildlife-protection response
East Africa
Following reporting about the use of Furadan to poison African lions, FMC engaged government officials, nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders. It ultimately stopped sales of the product in the region and established a buy-back program after determining that deliberate misuse could not be sufficiently controlled through education and stewardship alone.
Outcome. Regional sales were halted and a product buy-back program was introduced.
Brand decisions
2019
Spin off the lithium businessStrategyBackground
FMC was continuing to simplify its portfolio and separate businesses with different market profiles.
Action taken
The lithium business was separated into Livent and distributed as an independent company.
Aftermath
FMC became more concentrated on agricultural sciences and related health and nutrition activities.
2017
Obtain selected DuPont herbicide assetsM&ABackground
Antitrust remedies associated with the Dow–DuPont merger required divestiture of selected sulfonylurea herbicide assets.
Action taken
FMC entered an agreement to acquire the specified herbicide portfolio and related assets.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened FMC’s crop-protection offering.
2015
Sell the Alkali Chemicals businessStrategyBackground
FMC continued reducing its diversified industrial footprint.
Action taken
The Alkali Chemicals business was sold to Tronox.
Aftermath
The divestiture left FMC more focused on its selected agricultural, health and nutrition and technology-related activities.
2014
Acquire CheminovaM&ABackground
FMC sought to strengthen its agricultural-sciences portfolio and focus on agriculture, health and nutrition and lithium-related markets.
Action taken
The company announced an agreement to acquire international crop-protection company Cheminova.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded FMC’s crop-protection business and supported its later concentration on agricultural markets.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
FMC expects $625M-$675M in charges from price cuts and a U.S. pricing shift[4]
FMC said it expects $625 million to $675 million in charges stemming from price cuts and a U.S. pricing shift, according to a Stock Titan headline.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
FMC Corporation provides update to third-quarter expectations and announces comprehensive commercial actions[5]
FMC Corporation provided an update to its third-quarter expectations and announced comprehensive commercial actions that it said are intended to expedite its return to growth.
Reported
Veolia sues nine companies over PFAS contamination of Delaware drinking water[3]
Veolia, an investor-owned drinking water supplier, filed a lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court against nine companies, alleging they contaminated Delaware drinking water sources with toxic PFAS chemicals and failed to prevent the chemicals from entering the waterways Veolia relies on to serve 100,000 New Castle County residents. The lawsuit seeks compensation for a $35 million PFAS treatment system and associated operating costs.
Reported
FMC announces three-year partnership with NSPCA[6]
FMC announced a three-year partnership with South Africa's National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), pledging $300,000 over the partnership to support programs focused on wildlife conservation, animal welfare and education.
Reported
FMC announces 2035 net-zero emissions goal[7]
FMC Corporation announced a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, using science-based targets aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial times.
Reported
FMC appoints Daniel Artusi to its board[8]
Ferroelectric Memory GmbH (FMC) announced the appointment of Daniel Artusi to its board of directors.
Reported
FMC appoints vice president and chief sustainability officer[9]
FMC announced that Karen Totland was appointed to the newly created role of vice president and chief sustainability officer, effective January 1, 2021.
Reported
FMC raises full-year 2020 guidance[10]
FMC Corporation raised its full-year 2020 adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings guidance after reporting second-quarter results.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
FMC launches Arc farm intelligence platform[11]
FMC Corporation launched its Arc farm intelligence precision-agriculture platform. The company stated that commercial launch in Greece for cotton was planned for the following week.
Reported
FMC and Nutrien Ag Solutions launch Arc pilot program[12]
FMC Corporation partnered with Nutrien Ag Solutions on a pilot program using the FMC Arc farm intelligence platform to map and forecast diamondback moth populations in brassica crops in California's Salinas Valley. The pilot launched in late May 2020 and was scheduled to run through mid-September.
Sources12 sources
- 1FMC Corporationen.wikipedia.org
- 2FMC Corporation official websitefmc.com
- 3Veolia sues nine companies over PFAS contamination of Delaware drinking waterwhyy.org
- 4FMC预计因降价和美国定价调整产生6.25亿至6.75亿美元费用news.google.com
- 5FMC公司发布第三季度业绩预期更新并宣布综合性商业行动news.google.com
- 6FMC宣布与NSPCA建立为期三年的合作关系prnewswire.com
- 7FMC宣布2035年净零排放目标prnewswire.com
- 8FMC任命Daniel Artusi加入董事会prnewswire.com
- 9FMC任命副总裁兼首席可持续发展官prnewswire.com
- 10FMC上调2020全年业绩指引prnewswire.com
- 11FMC推出Arc farm intelligence平台finance.yahoo.com
- 12FMC与Nutrien Ag Solutions启动Arc试点项目prnewswire.com
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