CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 157,643	$ 170,065	$ 178,786
Cost of sales (excluding amortization, shown separately below)	42,217	45,049	46,271
Gross profit	115,426	125,016	132,515
Research and development expenses	12,357	14,112	13,873
Selling, general and administrative expenses	53,860	59,446	65,770
Amortization of intangibles	43,731	81,119	45,946
Impairment of assets	0	11,424	2,600
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	(330)	(3,018)
Grant income	(2,974)	0	0
Operating income (loss)	8,452	(40,755)	7,344
Other income	1,491	13	429
Debt modification and extinguishment expenses	(5,028)	0	0
Loss on foreign currency exchange	(2,836)	(4,127)	(1,722)
Interest expense, net	(23,669)	(33,784)	(34,451)
Loss before income taxes	(21,590)	(78,653)	(28,400)
Income taxes expense (benefit)	31,376	(24,500)	1,840
Net loss including non-controlling interest	(52,966)	(54,153)	(30,240)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest	(745)	562	180
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(53,711)	(53,591)	(30,060)
Less: Dividends on convertible preferred stock	10,488	0	0
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. common stockholders	$ (64,199)	$ (53,591)	$ (30,060)
Net loss per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.26)	$ (1.07)	$ (0.60)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.26)	$ (1.07)	$ (0.60)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	50,770,429	50,123,565	49,883,739
Diluted (in shares)	50,770,429	50,123,565	49,883,739