Cheminova was founded in 1938 by chemical engineer Gunnar Andreasen in Copenhagen. During the first years, several chemical products were made, depending on the shortage of a number of original products during the war.

In 1943, the founder of the company donated all company shares to the Aarhus University Research Foundation which had been established with the purpose of supporting research at the university.

In 1953, Cheminova was relocated to Lemvig in the western part of Denmark.

During the following decades, the company focused on the area of organophosphorous insecticides and intermediates resulting in Cheminova achieving a global leading position in this specific area. The product portfolio has since been expanded to include pyrethroid insecticides, herbicides and fungicides including products such as glyphosate and flutriafol. Further, sales subsidiaries have been established in key markets and the product portfolio is today marketed under own registrations and trademarks in most markets. Today, Cheminova is known as a leading global generic producer and accounts for 2 per cent of the global business of plant protection products.