Investments in Joint Ventures and Related Party Transactions - Summarized Information on Solazyme Bunge JV's Balance Sheets and Income Statements (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 3,713	$ 805	$ 0
Net losses		(42,398)	(46,165)	$ (16,280)
Solazyme Bunge JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Current assets		5,654	4,339
Noncurrent assets		100,755	141,147
Equity Method Summarized Financial Noncurrent Other Asset	[1]	16,144	20,604
Total assets		122,553	166,090
Current liabilities		23,009	24,881
Noncurrent liabilities		43,054	78,666
JV's partners' capital		56,490	62,543
Total liabilities and partners' capital, net		$ 122,553	$ 166,090

[1] Recoverable taxes are comprised of value-added taxes paid upon the acquisition of property, plant and equipment items and other goods and services, and other transactional taxes which can be recovered in cash or as compensation against income taxes or other taxes owed by Solazyme Bunge JV in Brazil. The realization of these recoverable tax payments could take in excess of five years.