Concentration of Business Risk (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue	$ 7,942	$ 14,742	$ 31,905	$ 42,252
Total product revenue [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue	7,942	14,742	31,905	42,252
Percentage of product revenue	86.00%	100.00%	86.00%	100.00%
Individual Product Line [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product and contract manufacturing revenue	9,262	14,742
Percentage of product revenue	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Animal health and nutrition [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue	5,787	8,624
Percentage of product revenue	62.00%	58.00%	62.00%	58.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Grain processing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue	2,054	3,942
Percentage of product revenue	23.00%	27.00%	23.00%	27.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Oilseed processing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue	0	1,929
Percentage of product revenue	0.00%	13.00%	0.00%	13.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Other products [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue	101	247
Percentage of product revenue	1.00%	2.00%	1.00%	2.00%
Individual Product Line [Member] | Contract manufacturing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue	1,320	0
Percentage of product revenue	14.00%	0.00%	14.00%	0.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product and contract manufacturing revenue			35,711	42,252
Percentage of product revenue	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Animal health and nutrition [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue			22,459	24,734
Percentage of product revenue	63.00%	59.00%	63.00%	59.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Grain processing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue			7,895	12,371
Percentage of product revenue	22.00%	29.00%	22.00%	29.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Oilseed processing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue			579	4,541
Percentage of product revenue	2.00%	11.00%	2.00%	11.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Other products [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue			972	606
Percentage of product revenue	3.00%	1.00%	3.00%	1.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Total product revenue [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Percentage of product revenue	89.00%		89.00%
Commercial Product Revenue [Member] | Contract manufacturing [Member]
Product and manufacturing revenues by individual product line
Total product revenue			$ 3,806	$ 0
Percentage of product revenue	11.00%	0.00%	11.00%	0.00%