SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
SEGMENT INFORMATION [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 37,723	$ 36,957
Cost of goods sold	31,651	29,386
Gross profit	6,072	7,571
Intersegment fees	0	0
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general and administrative)	(2,062)	(2,651)
Impairment of intangibles, property, plant and equipment	(1,069)	(1,592)
Recoveries from former customers	0	1,800
Other operating expense	(11,628)	(14,712)
Loss from operations	(8,687)	(9,584)
Net loss attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders	(9,509)	(10,099)
Interest expense	(1,926)	(1,763)
Depreciation (in costs of goods sold)	(2,550)	(2,329)
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	6,482	6,867
Property, plant and equipment, end of period	28,457	27,995
Goodwill, end of period	4,773	5,240
Intangible assets, net, end of period	2,575	3,928
Total assets, end of period	47,006	52,232
Revenues from External Customers by Geographical Area [Line Items]
Revenues	37,723	36,957
United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers by Geographical Area [Line Items]
Revenues	16,177	9,178
Brazil [Member]
Revenues from External Customers by Geographical Area [Line Items]
Revenues	18,266	19,141
Other International [Member]
Revenues from External Customers by Geographical Area [Line Items]
Revenues	3,280	8,638
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0
Gross profit	0	0
Intersegment fees	347	(439)
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general and administrative)	(197)	(119)
Impairment of intangibles, property, plant and equipment	0	(240)
Recoveries from former customers		0
Other operating expense	(4,768)	(5,556)
Loss from operations	(4,618)	(6,354)
Net loss attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders	(7,046)	(6,875)
Interest expense	(743)	(619)
Depreciation (in costs of goods sold)	0	0
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	1	0
Property, plant and equipment, end of period	36	263
Goodwill, end of period	0	0
Intangible assets, net, end of period	0	0
Total assets, end of period	3,201	4,672
USA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues	12,633	10,700
Cost of goods sold	8,946	7,566
Gross profit	3,687	3,134
Intersegment fees	0	0
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general and administrative)	(1,006)	(1,306)
Impairment of intangibles, property, plant and equipment	(1,069)	(1,352)
Recoveries from former customers		1,800
Other operating expense	(2,364)	(3,728)
Loss from operations	(752)	(1,452)
Net loss attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders	(770)	(1,631)
Interest expense	(17)	(180)
Depreciation (in costs of goods sold)	(899)	(993)
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	150	98
Property, plant and equipment, end of period	8,731	11,899
Goodwill, end of period	0	0
Intangible assets, net, end of period	1,133	1,612
Total assets, end of period	11,609	14,219
Brazil [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues	25,090	26,257
Cost of goods sold	22,705	21,820
Gross profit	2,385	4,437
Intersegment fees	(347)	439
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general and administrative)	(859)	(1,226)
Impairment of intangibles, property, plant and equipment	0	0
Recoveries from former customers		0
Other operating expense	(4,496)	(5,428)
Loss from operations	(3,317)	(1,778)
Net loss attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders	(1,693)	(1,593)
Interest expense	(1,166)	(964)
Depreciation (in costs of goods sold)	(1,651)	(1,336)
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	6,331	6,769
Property, plant and equipment, end of period	19,690	15,833
Goodwill, end of period	4,773	5,240
Intangible assets, net, end of period	1,442	2,316
Total assets, end of period	$ 32,196	$ 33,341