UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		0	51,840
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 333,686	$ 0	$ 5	$ (3,885)	$ 560,890	$ (192,264)	$ (31,060)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation	2,473				2,473
Issuance of stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)			(1,179)
Shares withheld for taxes (in shares)			(48)
Shares withheld for taxes	(239)				(239)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)			84
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	197				197
Convertible preferred dividend	(4,400)				(4,400)
Adjustment of NCI to redemption value					(1,205)	1,205
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(50,651)					(50,651)
Comprehensive loss	(10,104)						(10,104)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020		0	53,055
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	270,962	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	557,716	(241,710)	(41,164)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		0	51,840
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	333,686	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	560,890	(192,264)	(31,060)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Adjustment of NCI to redemption value	1,139
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		0	53,092
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2020	272,393	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	552,776	(244,836)	(31,667)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		0	52,875
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2020	304,895	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	562,072	(212,466)	(40,831)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation	872				872
Issuance of stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)			(187)
Shares withheld for taxes (in shares)			(7)
Shares withheld for taxes	(19)				(19)
Convertible preferred dividend	(4,400)				(4,400)
Adjustment of NCI to redemption value					(809)	809
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(30,053)					(30,053)
Comprehensive loss	(333)						(333)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020		0	53,055
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	270,962	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	557,716	(241,710)	(41,164)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		0	53,092
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	272,393	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	552,776	(244,836)	(31,667)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation	2,031				2,031
Issuance of stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)			53
Shares withheld for taxes (in shares)			(131)
Shares withheld for taxes	(287)				(287)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)			92
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	163				163
Convertible preferred dividend	(18,580)				(18,580)
Adjustment of NCI to redemption value	491				(491)	491
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	(7,843)					(7,843)
Comprehensive loss	(8,570)						(8,570)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021		0	53,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021	239,307	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	535,612	(252,188)	(40,237)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021		0	52,806
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2021	246,046	$ 0	$ 5	(3,885)	541,185	(253,435)	(37,824)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation	949				949
Issuance of stock, net of forfeitures (in shares)			(204)
Shares withheld for taxes (in shares)			(10)
Shares withheld for taxes	(21)				(21)
Convertible preferred dividend	(6,248)				(6,248)
Adjustment of NCI to redemption value					(253)	253
Net loss attributable to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.	994					994
Comprehensive loss	(2,413)						(2,413)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021		0	53,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 239,307	$ 0	$ 5	$ (3,885)	$ 535,612	$ (252,188)	$ (40,237)