Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Segment Reporting

Given the integrated nature of the products we produce and the facilities in which we produce them, we have one reporting unit and one operating segment, as defined in applicable accounting guidance, specialty ingredients.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Guidance

Recent accounting standards not yet adopted

The following discusses the accounting standard(s) not yet adopted that will, or are expected to, result in a significant change in practice and/or have a significant financial impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance ASU No. 2016-13 Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which changes the accounting for credit losses for certain instruments, including trade receivables, from an incurred loss method to a current expected loss method. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The guidance, and subsequent guidance related to the topic, is effective for our annual and interim periods beginning in 2023 and must be adopted on a modified retrospective approach through cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2023. Based on the nature of our current receivables and our credit loss history, we do not expect the adoption of the guidance to have a significant impact on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation – The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in U.S. dollars and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of RiceBran Technologies and all subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest. All significant inter-company balances are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Because of the uncertainty inherent in such estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassification, Comparability Adjustment [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications – Certain reclassifications have been made to amounts reported for the prior year to achieve consistent presentation with the current year. Such reclassifications had no impact on previously reported net loss or shareholders’ equity.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents – We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. In all periods presented, we maintained our cash and cash equivalents with major banks. We maintain cash in bank accounts in amounts which at times may exceed federally insured limits. At times we invest in money market funds which are also not federally insured. We have not experienced any losses on such accounts.

Accounts Receivable [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable represent amounts receivable on trade accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on our assessment of the collectability of customer accounts and the aging of accounts receivable. We analyze the aging of customer accounts, customer concentrations, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in our customer payment patterns when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. From period to period, differences in judgments or estimates utilized may result in material differences in the amount and timing of the provision for doubtful accounts. We periodically evaluate our credit policy to ensure that customers are worthy of terms and support our business plans. We generally do not require collateral.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories – We state inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value. We employ a full absorption procedure using standard cost techniques for most of our operations. The standards are customarily reviewed and adjusted so that they are materially consistent with actual purchase and production costs. We make provisions for potentially obsolete or slow-moving inventory based upon our analysis of inventory levels, historical obsolescence and future sales forecasts. We write-off inventory determined to be obsolete immediately.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. We compute depreciation on the straight-line basis and recognize it over the estimated useful lives of the assets. We expense maintenance and repairs as incurred and capitalize renewals and betterments. We include gains or losses on the sale of property and equipment in net income (loss).

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Long-lived Assets – We review our long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and right-of-use assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We recognize an impairment loss when the undiscounted future cash flows estimated to be generated by the asset to be held and used are not sufficient to recover the unamortized balance of the asset. The impairment loss is the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value. We determine the estimated fair value based on either the discounted future cash flows or other appropriate fair value methods with the amount of any such deficiency charged to operations in the current year. Estimates of future cash flows are based on many factors, including current operating results, expected market trends and competitive influences. We report assets to be disposed of by sale at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value, less estimated costs to sell.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible Assets – We amortize recognized intangible assets over the useful lives of the assets unless that life is determined to be indefinite. All of our intangible assets are finite lived. We evaluate the remaining useful life of an intangible asset each reporting period to determine whether events or circumstances may indicate that a revision to the useful life is warranted to reflect the remaining expected use of the asset. If an intangible asset’s useful life is determined to be finite, but the precise length of that life is not known, the intangible asset is amortized over our best estimate of the asset’s useful life in a manner that reflects the pattern in which the asset’s economic benefits are consumed or expected to be realized. We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We recognize an impairment loss when the undiscounted future cash flows estimated to be generated by the asset to be held and used are not sufficient to recover the unamortized balance of the asset. Our primary intangible asset is a customer relationship intangible which derives its value from future cash flows expected from the acquired customers. Changes in the actual or estimated future cash flows of these customers could result in a material adjustment to amortization expense, an impairment loss, or both. Estimates of future cash flows are based on many factors, including current cash flows, expected market trends and competitive influences.

Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block]

Leases – We lease certain buildings, land and corporate office space under operating leases with monthly or annual rent payments. We lease certain machinery and equipment under finance leases with monthly rent payments. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. We present operating lease assets as operating lease right-of-use assets and the related liabilities as operating lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. We include finance lease right-of-use assets in property and equipment, net, and the related liabilities as finance lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

We recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term, beginning at the commencement date, for leases exceeding a year. Minimum lease payments include the fixed lease components of the lease and any variable rate payments that depend on an index, initially measured using the index at the lease commencement date. Lease terms may include options to renew when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. We combine lease and nonlease components and account for them as a single lease component. Certain leases contain rent escalation clauses, rent holidays, capital improvement funding or other lease concessions.

In determining our right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, we apply a discount rate to the minimum lease payments within each lease. When we cannot readily determine the discount rate implicit in a lease, we utilize our incremental borrowing rate, the rate of interest that we would incur to borrow, on a collateralized basis over a similar term, an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. To estimate the incremental borrowing rate, we reference a market yield curve consistent with our assessment of our credit quality.

We recognize operating lease expense related to the minimum lease payments on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For finance leases, we recognize amortization expense related to the minimum lease payments on a straight-line basis over the lease term while interest expense is recognized using the effective interest method. Expense related to variable lease payments that do not depend on a rate or index and short-term rentals, on leases with terms less than a year, are expensed as incurred.

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition – We account for a contract with a customer when the written contract is committed, the rights of the parties, including payment terms, are identified, the contract has commercial substance and consideration is probable of collection. Substantially all of our revenue is derived by fulfilling customer orders for the purchase of our products under contracts which contain a single performance obligation, to supply continually defined quantities of product at fixed prices. We account for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of a good as a fulfillment cost rather than as an additional promised service. We recognize revenue at the point in time that control of the ordered product(s) is transferred to the customer, which is upon delivery to the customer, or its designee at our location, a customer location or other customer-designated delivery point. For substantially all of our contracts, control of the ordered product(s) transfers at our location. We report amounts invoiced to customers for shipping and handling are reported as revenues and the related costs incurred to deliver product to the customer are reported as cost of goods sold.

We measure revenue as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for fulfilling product orders. Incidental items that are immaterial in the context of the contract are recognized as expense. Our contracts do not include a significant financing component. Our contracts may include terms that could cause variability in the transaction price, including, for example, rebates and volume discounts, or other forms of contingent revenue. The amount of consideration we expect to receive and revenue we recognize includes estimates of variable consideration, including costs for rebates and discounts. If the consideration promised in a contract includes a variable amount, we estimate the amount to which we expect to be entitled using either the expected value or most likely amount method. Changes in judgments and estimates regarding probability of collection and variable consideration might result in a change in the timing or amount of revenue recognized.

We capitalize the incremental costs of obtaining a revenue contract and amortized those costs on a straight-line basis over the expected customer relationship period if we expect to recover those costs. As a practical expedient, we expense costs to obtain a contract as incurred if the amortization period would have been a year or less. Typically, costs to incur revenue contracts are not significant.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses – Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries and wages, bonuses and incentives, share-based compensation expense, employee-related expenses, facility-related expenses, marketing and advertising expense, depreciation of non-operating property and equipment, professional fees, amortization of intangible assets, provisions for losses on accounts receivable and other operating expenses.

Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Director [Policy Text Block]

Share-Based Compensation – For awards of nonvested common stock and common stock units to employees and directors, share-based compensation is measured based on the fair value of our common stock on the date of grant and the corresponding expense is recognized over the period during which the holder is required to provide service in exchange for the award. Compensation expense related to service-based awards are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award. In the event we require no specific future performance, the entire amount of compensation is recognized immediately.

We have outstanding common stock options as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. We have not granted any stock options since 2020. Share-based compensation expense for common stock options granted to employees and directors was calculated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model and is expensed on a straight-line basis over the service period of the award. The Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model required us to estimate key assumptions such as expected life, volatility, risk-free interest rates and dividend yield to determine the fair value of share-based awards, based on both historical information and management’s judgment regarding market factors and trends.

We recognize forfeitures of employee and director awards as they occur. In the event an employee or director terminates service prior to the vesting of an award, we reverse the entire amount of previously recognized compensation expense related to the award.

Share-based compensation for awards to nonemployees is calculated as of the grant date, taking into consideration the probability of satisfaction of performance conditions, in a manner consistent with awards to employees. The expense associated with share-based awards for service is recognized over the term of service. In the event services are terminated early or we require no specific future performance, the entire amount of unrecognized compensation is expensed. The expense associated with share-based awards made in exchange for goods is generally attributed to expense in the same manner as if the vendor had been paid in cash.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes – We account for income taxes by recording a deferred tax asset or liability for the recognition of future deductible or taxable amounts and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. We recognize a deferred tax expense or benefit as a result of timing differences between the recognition of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and tax purposes.

We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. We recognized deferred tax assets for deductible temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. When necessary, we establish a valuation allowance to reduce that deferred tax asset if it is more likely than not that the related tax benefits will not be realized. The realization of deferred tax assets can be affected by, among other things, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the length of statutory carryforward periods, our experience with utilizing operating losses and tax credit carryforwards by jurisdiction, and tax planning alternatives that may be available. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that may be different from current estimates of the tax liabilities. If our estimate of tax liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate assessment, an additional charge to expense would result. If payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be less than the recorded amounts, the reversal of the liabilities may result in income tax benefits being recognized in the period when it is determined that the liabilities are no longer necessary.

We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, if any, in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Derivative Warrant Liability – We have an outstanding warrant agreement that provides for cash settlement of the warrant in certain circumstances. We account for this warrant as a liability instrument. This warrant is carried at fair value as a derivative warrant liability in our consolidated balance sheets at the end of each reporting period and any resultant changes in fair value are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations in other income (expense) as change in fair value of derivative warrant liability.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value – Fair value is based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Certain assets and liabilities may be presented in the financial statements at fair value. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis may include property and equipment.

We assess the inputs used to measure fair value using a three-tier hierarchy based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market:

● Level 1 – inputs include quoted prices for identical instruments and are the most observable.

● Level 2 – inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and observable inputs such as interest rates, currency exchange rates and yield curves.

● Level 3 – inputs are not observable in the market and include management’s judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.