Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenue:
Product	$ 43,355	$ 55,995	$ 50,351
Contract manufacturing	5,547	0	0
Collaborative and license	8,269	5,272	1,722
Total revenue	57,171	61,267	52,073
Operating (income) expenses:
Cost of product and contract manufacturing revenue	32,096	34,481	31,715
Research and development	15,060	11,038	6,198
Selling, general and administrative	19,567	18,991	27,662
Gain on sale of oilseed processing business	(31,278)	0	0
Restructuring charges	30	2,943	0
Total operating expenses	35,475	67,453	65,575
Income (loss) from operations	21,696	(6,186)	(13,502)
Other income and expenses:
Other income (expense), net	(567)	56	(24)
Interest expense	(2,086)	(3,088)	(7,457)
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment upon repurchase of convertible notes	0	15,349	(3,384)
Loss on net change in fair value of derivative assets and liabilities	(548)	(869)	(145)
Gain on debt extinguishment upon conversion of convertible notes	0	0	598
Total other income and (expenses), net	(3,201)	11,448	(10,412)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	18,495	5,262	(23,914)
Income tax (provision) benefit	(226)	368	9,748
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	18,269	5,630	(14,166)
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of $55.9 million gain on divestiture of discontinued operations, net of income tax of $9.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010	(56)	(112)	8,816
Net income (loss)	18,213	5,518	(5,350)
Less: Loss attributed to noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities - discontinued operations	0	0	25,283
Net income attributed to Verenium Corporation	18,213	5,518	19,933
Net income (loss) per share, basic:
Continuing operations	$ 1.44	$ 0.45	$ (1.15)
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.72
Attributed to Verenium Corporation	$ 1.43	$ 0.44	$ 1.62
Net income (loss) per share, diluted:
Continuing operations	$ 1.41	$ 0.45	$ (1.15)
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.72
Attributed to Verenium Corporation	$ 1.41	$ 0.44	$ 1.62
Shares used in calculating net income (loss) per share, basic	12,693	12,608	12,321
Shares used in calculating net income (loss) per share, diluted	12,933	12,608	12,321
Comprehensive income	$ 18,213	$ 5,518	$ 19,933