SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Segment	Dec. 31, 2012
SEGMENT INFORMATION [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	2
Segment information identified and reconciliation of segment information to total consolidated information [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 35,051	$ 37,723
Cost of goods sold	31,106	31,651
Gross profit	3,945	6,072
Intersegment fees		0
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general and administrative)	(1,249)	(2,062)
Impairment of property	(300)	(1,069)
Other operating expense	(12,366)	(11,628)
Loss from operations	(9,970)	(8,687)
Net loss attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders	(15,021)	(9,509)
Interest expense	(3,934)	(1,926)
Depreciation (in costs of goods sold)	(2,799)	(2,550)
Purchases of property	3,119	6,482
Segment information for selected balance sheet accounts [Abstract]
Property, net, end of period	24,958	28,457
Goodwill, end of period	4,139	4,773
Intangible assets, net, end of period	1,417	2,575
Total assets, end of period	44,578	47,006
Revenues from External Customers by Geographical Area [Line Items]
Total revenues	35,051	37,723
United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers by Geographical Area [Line Items]
Total revenues	12,869	16,177
Brazil [Member]
Revenues from External Customers by Geographical Area [Line Items]
Total revenues	17,861	18,266
Other International [Member]
Revenues from External Customers by Geographical Area [Line Items]
Total revenues	4,321	3,280
Corporate [Member]
Segment information identified and reconciliation of segment information to total consolidated information [Abstract]
Revenues	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0
Gross profit	0	0
Intersegment fees		347
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general and administrative)	(24)	(197)
Impairment of property	0	0
Other operating expense	(5,918)	(4,768)
Loss from operations	(5,942)	(4,618)
Net loss attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders	(12,418)	(7,046)
Interest expense	(1,950)	(743)
Depreciation (in costs of goods sold)	0	0
Purchases of property	21	1
Segment information for selected balance sheet accounts [Abstract]
Property, net, end of period	55	36
Goodwill, end of period	0	0
Intangible assets, net, end of period	0	0
Total assets, end of period	6,039	3,201
USA [Member]
Segment information identified and reconciliation of segment information to total consolidated information [Abstract]
Revenues	12,023	12,633
Cost of goods sold	9,078	8,946
Gross profit	2,945	3,687
Intersegment fees		0
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general and administrative)	(469)	(1,006)
Impairment of property	(300)	(1,069)
Other operating expense	(2,006)	(2,364)
Loss from operations	170	(752)
Net loss attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders	170	(770)
Interest expense	0	(17)
Depreciation (in costs of goods sold)	(926)	(899)
Purchases of property	191	150
Segment information for selected balance sheet accounts [Abstract]
Property, net, end of period	7,231	8,731
Goodwill, end of period	0	0
Intangible assets, net, end of period	745	1,133
Total assets, end of period	9,796	11,609
Brazil [Member]
Segment information identified and reconciliation of segment information to total consolidated information [Abstract]
Revenues	23,028	25,090
Cost of goods sold	22,028	22,705
Gross profit	1,000	2,385
Intersegment fees		(347)
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general and administrative)	(756)	(859)
Impairment of property	0	0
Other operating expense	(4,442)	(4,496)
Loss from operations	(4,198)	(3,317)
Net loss attributable to RiceBran Technologies shareholders	(2,773)	(1,693)
Interest expense	(1,984)	(1,166)
Depreciation (in costs of goods sold)	(1,873)	(1,651)
Purchases of property	2,907	6,331
Segment information for selected balance sheet accounts [Abstract]
Property, net, end of period	17,672	19,690
Goodwill, end of period	4,139	4,773
Intangible assets, net, end of period	672	1,442
Total assets, end of period	$ 28,743	$ 32,196