Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 37,723	$ 36,957
Cost of goods sold	31,651	29,386
Gross profit	6,072	7,571
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	12,243	14,441
Professional fees	1,447	2,922
Impairment of property	1,069	906
Impairment of intangible assets	0	686
Recoveries from former customers	0	(1,800)
Total operating expenses	14,759	17,155
Loss from operations	(8,687)	(9,584)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	74	126
Interest expense	(1,926)	(1,763)
Change in fair value of derivative warrant and conversion liabilities	5,420	332
Loss on extinguishment	(4,941)	0
Financing expense	(2,184)	0
Foreign currency exchange, net	(617)	(99)
Other income	27	232
Other expense	(237)	(464)
Total other income (expense)	(4,384)	(1,636)
Loss before income taxes	(13,071)	(11,220)
Income tax benefit	1,935	345
Net loss	(11,136)	(10,875)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Nutra SA	1,627	776
Net loss attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders	$ (9,509)	$ (10,099)
Loss per share attributable to NutraCea shareholders
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.05)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.05)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	204,682,397	198,370,369
Diluted (in shares)	204,682,397	198,370,369