Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 518	$ 323
Equity attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders::
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	207,616,097	201,264,622
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	207,616,097	201,264,622
Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, variable interest entity restricted	2,505
Variable interest entity restricted portion of property, net	5,757
Current liabilities:
Nonrecourse portion of current maturities of long-term debt (variable interest entity)	7,013
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, less current portion variable interest entity nonrecourse	$ 7,454