COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2879

Agricultural Chemicals, Not Elsewhere Classified

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

11companies1895–1982founding years11still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRhône-Poulenc S.A.
1895
FoundedEkco Group, Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedAmerican Cyanamid
1907
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedConAgra, Inc.FoundedShionogi & Co., Ltd.
1919
FoundedFMC Corporation
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedGreat Lakes Chemical Corporation
1933
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedTalley Industries, Inc.
1960
FoundedRoussel Uclaf
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedTerra Industries, Inc.
1964
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedMycogen Corporation
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Rhône-Poulenc S.A. →
Active · founded 1895 · France
Rhône-Poulenc S.A.
Ekco Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
Ekco Group, Inc.
American Cyanamid →
Active · founded 1907
When William Bell became president of American Cyanamid in 1922, he is reported to have said "even a fool could see…
ConAgra, Inc. →
Active · founded 1919
In 1919 Alva Kinney brought four grain milling companies in south central Nebraska together to take advantage of…
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1919 · Japan
Shionogi & Co., Ltd., ranks among Japan's leading developers, producers, and exporters of pharmaceuticals.
FMC Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
FMC Corporation is a leading producer of industrial and specialty chemicals and maintains interests in defense systems,…
Great Lakes Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1933
Great Lakes Chemical Corporation is one of the world's largest manufacturers of bromine and brominated chemical…
Talley Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
Talley Industries Inc.
Roussel Uclaf →
Active · founded 1961 · France
Roussel Uclaf is one of France's most important pharmaceutical companies and among the world's leading diversified…
Terra Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Terra Industries, Inc., is one of the nation's largest producers and marketers of nitrogen fertilizer, crop protection…
Mycogen Corporation →
Active · founded 1982
Mycogen Corporation is an agricultural biotechnology company focusing on the development of genetically engineered,…
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