The Company	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
The Company	THE COMPANY Nature of Business—TerraVia Holdings, Inc. (We or the Company) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on March 31, 2003. We produce food, nutrition and specialty ingredients from algae. In May 2016, we changed our name from Solazyme, Inc. to TerraVia Holdings, Inc., and changed our Nasdaq ticker listing symbol from SZYM to TVIA. Our proprietary technology uses microalgae to produce high-value triglyceride oils, proteins, fibers, micronutrients and other ingredients. We have developed and are commercializing products for food and nutrition ingredients, animal nutrition ingredients and specialty personal care applications and our products can replace or enhance products derived from the world’s three existing oil sources: petroleum, plants and animal fats. Our technology platform harnesses the oil and protein-producing characteristics of microalgae and we are able to tailor the composition of our oils, powders and other bioproducts to address specific customer requirements. We use standard fermentation equipment to convert sugars into the desired end product. By feeding plant-based sugars to our proprietary microalgae in enclosed fermentation tanks, we are in effect utilizing “indirect photosynthesis.” We are involved in a highly competitive industry that is characterized by the risks of changing technologies, market conditions and regulatory requirements. Penetration into markets requires investment of considerable resources and continuous development efforts. Our future success depends upon several factors, including the technological quality, price, and performance of our products and services relative to those of our competitors, scaling up of production for commercial sale, ability to secure adequate project financing at appropriate terms, and the nature of regulation in our target markets. We own 50.1% of Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils Cooperatief U.A., (SB Oils JV), which wholly owns Solazyme Bunge Produtos Renováveis Ltda. (SB Oils), which operates a commercial production facility in Brazil. Bunge Global Innovation, LLC owns the remaining 49.9% of the SB Oils JV. References to the SB Oils JV include activities of SB Oils unless otherwise noted. Discontinued Operations—As further described in Note 18, on August 16, 2016 we sold our Algenist skincare business to TCP Algenist LLC, an affiliate of Tengram Capital Partners and Algenist Holdings, Inc. in exchange for $20.2 million in cash (before $1.4 million closing costs), 19.9% of the fully diluted equity of Algenist Holdings, Inc. and the assumption of substantially all of the liabilities related to the Algenist skincare business by Algenist Holdings, Inc. The Algenist skincare business was previously presented as an operating segment. The results of operations and financial position of Algenist have been presented as discontinued operations for all periods. Unless otherwise noted, the notes to the consolidated financial statements pertain to continuing operations.

THE COMPANY

Nature of Business—TerraVia Holdings, Inc. (We or the Company) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on March 31, 2003. We produce food, nutrition and specialty ingredients from algae. In May 2016, we changed our name from Solazyme, Inc. to TerraVia Holdings, Inc., and changed our Nasdaq ticker listing symbol from SZYM to TVIA.

Our proprietary technology uses microalgae to produce high-value triglyceride oils, proteins, fibers, micronutrients and other ingredients. We have developed and are commercializing products for food and nutrition ingredients, animal nutrition ingredients and specialty personal care applications and our products can replace or enhance products derived from the world’s three existing oil sources: petroleum, plants and animal fats. Our technology platform harnesses the oil and protein-producing characteristics of microalgae and we are able to tailor the composition of our oils, powders and other bioproducts to address specific customer requirements. We use standard fermentation equipment to convert sugars into the desired end product. By feeding plant-based sugars to our proprietary microalgae in enclosed fermentation tanks, we are in effect utilizing “indirect photosynthesis.”

We are involved in a highly competitive industry that is characterized by the risks of changing technologies, market conditions and regulatory requirements. Penetration into markets requires investment of considerable resources and continuous development efforts. Our future success depends upon several factors, including the technological quality, price, and performance of our products and services relative to those of our competitors, scaling up of production for commercial sale, ability to secure adequate project financing at appropriate terms, and the nature of regulation in our target markets.

We own 50.1% of Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils Cooperatief U.A., (SB Oils JV), which wholly owns Solazyme Bunge Produtos Renováveis Ltda. (SB Oils), which operates a commercial production facility in Brazil. Bunge Global Innovation, LLC owns the remaining 49.9% of the SB Oils JV. References to the SB Oils JV include activities of SB Oils unless otherwise noted.

Discontinued Operations—As further described in Note 18, on August 16, 2016 we sold our Algenist skincare business to TCP Algenist LLC, an affiliate of Tengram Capital Partners and Algenist Holdings, Inc. in exchange for $20.2 million in cash (before $1.4 million closing costs), 19.9% of the fully diluted equity of Algenist Holdings, Inc. and the assumption of substantially all of the liabilities related to the Algenist skincare business by Algenist Holdings, Inc. The Algenist skincare business was previously presented as an operating segment. The results of operations and financial position of Algenist have been presented as discontinued operations for all periods. Unless otherwise noted, the notes to the consolidated financial statements pertain to continuing operations.