research and development expense environmental laws and regulations employees securities and exchange Commission Filings iteM 1a risk Factors Worldwide recession and disruption of Financial Markets We perform research and development in all of our segments with the  majority of our efforts focused in the Agricultural Products segment.  The development efforts in the Agricultural Products segment focus  on developing environmentally sound solutions and new product  formulations that cost-effectively increase farmers’ yields and provide  alternatives to existing and new chemistries. Our research and  development expenses in the last three years are set forth below: A discussion of environmental related factors can be found in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results  of Operations” and in Note 10 “Environmental” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K. We employ approximately 4,900 people, with approximately 2,400  people in our domestic operations and 2,500 people in our foreign  operations. Approximately 33 percent of our U.S.-based employees and  36 percent of our foreign-based employees are represented by collective  bargaining agreements. We have successfully concluded virtually all  of our recent contract negotiations without a work stoppage. In those  rare instances where a work stoppage has occurred, there has been no  material effect on consolidated sales and earnings. We cannot predict,  however, the outcome of future contract negotiations. In 2011, we  have 8 collective-bargaining agreements expiring. These contracts affect  approximately 5 percent of U.S.-based employees and 34 percent of  foreign-based employees. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings are available free of  charge on our website, www.fmc.com. Our annual reports on Form 10- K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and  amendments to those reports are posted as soon as practicable after  we furnish such materials to the SEC. In accordance with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) rules,  on May 21, 2010, the Company filed our certification by our Chief  Executive Officer (CEO) that, as of the date of the certification, he was  unaware of any violation by FMC of the NYSE’s corporate governance  listing standards. We also file with each Form 10-Q and our Form 10-K  certifications by the CEO and Chief Financial Officer under sections  302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Among the factors that could have an impact on our ability to achieve operating results and meet our other goals are: • The worldwide financial and credit market disruptions that were first  manifested in 2008, reduced the availability of liquidity and credit  generally necessary to fund a continuation and expansion of global  economic activity. The shortage of liquidity and credit combined  with substantial losses in equity markets led to a worldwide economic  recession. While we have seen signs of recovery, the general slowdown  in economic activity caused by an extended recession could adversely  affect our business. A continuation or worsening of the current difficult  economic conditions could adversely affect our customers’ ability to  meet the terms of sale or our suppliers’ ability to fully perform their  commitments to us. (in Millions) Year Ended December 31, 2010 2009 2008 Agricultural Products $80.8 $73.1 $70.6 Specialty Chemicals 13.4 12.9 14.9 Industrial Chemicals 6.3 6.8 8.3 tOtaL $100.5 $92.8 $93.8 Part I  iteM 1a risk Factors 12 FMC Corporation    2010 Form 10K