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Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Jun. 30, 2018	Aug. 03, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	AQB
Entity Registrant Name	Aquabounty Technologies, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001603978
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,848,376

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 3,518,806	$ 492,861
Certificate of deposit	12,820	13,422
Other receivables	101,328	183,926
Inventory	82,429	172,363
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	394,594	527,322
Total current assets	4,109,977	1,389,894
Property, plant and equipment, net	23,617,701	21,802,976
Definite-lived intangible assets, net	178,143	184,995
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	191,800	191,800
Other assets	162,093	162,093
Total assets	28,259,714	23,731,758
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,168,875	2,666,855
Current debt	58,377	49,794
Total current liabilities	1,227,252	2,716,649
Long-term debt	2,932,573	3,034,420
Total liabilities	4,159,825	5,751,069
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 12,848,376 (2017: 8,895,094) shares outstanding	12,848	8,895
Additional paid-in capital	138,262,298	126,718,186
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(411,813)	(213,884)
Accumulated deficit	(113,763,444)	(108,532,508)
Total stockholders’ equity	24,099,889	17,980,689
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 28,259,714	$ 23,731,758

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, share authorized (in shares)	50,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	12,848,376	8,895,094

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues
Product revenues	$ 47,898	$ 53,278	$ 66,995	$ 53,278
Costs and expenses
Product costs	47,287	50,777	63,519	50,777
Sales and marketing	76,381	202,910	158,028	411,198
Research and development	880,822	936,317	1,858,639	1,656,339
General and administrative	1,827,991	950,348	3,214,864	2,071,136
Total costs and expenses	2,832,481	2,140,352	5,295,050	4,189,450
Operating loss	(2,784,583)	(2,087,074)	(5,228,055)	(4,136,172)
Other income (expense)
Gain on disposal of equipment	10,585	0	11,745	0
Interest expense	(5,283)	(5,253)	(10,685)	(10,533)
Other income (expense), net	(1,868)	(1,109)	(3,941)	(2,474)
Total other income (expense)	3,434	(6,362)	(2,881)	(13,007)
Net loss	(2,781,149)	(2,093,436)	(5,230,936)	(4,149,179)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation income (loss)	(85,811)	22,437	(197,929)	8,151
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(85,811)	22,437	(197,929)	8,151
Comprehensive loss	$ (2,866,960)	$ (2,070,999)	$ (5,428,865)	$ (4,141,028)
Basic and diluted net loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.22)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.42)	$ (0.48)
Weighted average number of common shares - basic and diluted (in shares)	12,787,761	8,892,213	12,366,657	8,647,861

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 2018 - USD ($)	Total	Common Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Accumulated deficit
Beginning Balance, issued and outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		8,895,094
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 17,980,689	$ 8,895	$ 126,718,186	$ (213,884)	$ (108,532,508)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(5,230,936)				(5,230,936)
Other comprehensive loss	(197,929)			(197,929)
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of expenses (in shares)		3,692,307
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of expenses	10,616,048	$ 3,692	10,612,356
Exercise of warrants for common stock (in shares)		249,824
Exercise of warrants for common stock	811,928	$ 250	811,678
Share based compensation (in shares)		11,151
Share based compensation	120,089	$ 11	120,078
Ending Balance, issued and outstanding (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		12,848,376
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 24,099,889	$ 12,848	$ 138,262,298	$ (411,813)	$ (113,763,444)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Operating activities
Net loss	$ (5,230,936)	$ (4,149,179)
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	273,646	91,569
Share-based compensation	120,089	48,752
Gain on disposal of equipment	(11,745)	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other receivables	77,782	7,853
Inventory	88,656	(78,275)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	131,486	(279,058)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(783,356)	(38,702)
Net cash used in operating activities	(5,334,378)	(4,397,040)
Investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(3,039,177)	(16,193,926)
Proceeds on sale of equipment	21,745	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,017,432)	(16,193,926)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0	256,807
Repayment of term debt	(28,870)	(11,405)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock and warrants, net	10,616,048	24,989,257
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants	811,928	27,502
Net cash provided by financing activities	11,399,106	25,262,161
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(21,351)	(4,422)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	3,025,945	4,666,773
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	492,861	3,324,609
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period	3,518,806	7,991,382
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information and non-cash transactions:
Interest paid in cash	10,685	10,533
Property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	330,136	16,218
Acquisition of equipment under debt agreement	$ 75,124	$ 0

Nature of business and organization	6 Months Ended
Nature of business and organization	Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of business and organization	Nature of business and organization AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (the “Parent” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) was incorporated in December 1991 in the State of Delaware for the purpose of conducting research and development of the commercial viability of a group of proteins commonly known as antifreeze proteins. In 1996, the Parent obtained the exclusive licensing rights for a gene construct (transgene) used to create a breed of farm‑raised Atlantic salmon that exhibit growth rates that are substantially faster than traditional salmon. In 2015, the Parent obtained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) for the production, sale, and consumption of its AquAdvantage® Salmon product in the United States. In 2016, the Parent obtained approval from Health Canada for the sale and consumption of its AquAdvantage Salmon product in Canada. Previously, in 2013, the Parent obtained approval from Environment Canada for the production of the product. AQUA Bounty Canada Inc. (the “Canadian Subsidiary”) was incorporated in January 1994 for the purpose of establishing a commercial biotechnology laboratory to conduct research and development programs related to the Parent’s technologies and to commercialize the Parent’s products in Canada. AquaBounty Panama, S. de R.L. (the “Panama Subsidiary”) was incorporated in May 2008 in Panama for the purpose of conducting commercial trials of the Parent’s products. AquaBounty Farms, Inc. (the “U.S. Subsidiary”) was incorporated in December 2014 in the State of Delaware for the purpose of conducting field trials and commercializing the Parent’s products in the United States. AquaBounty Farms Indiana LLC (the “Indiana Subsidiary”), which is wholly owned by the U.S. Subsidiary, was formed in June 2017 in the State of Delaware for the purpose of operating its aquaculture facility in Albany, Indiana. AquaBounty Brasil Participações Ltda. (the “Brazil Subsidiary”) was incorporated in May 2015 for the purpose of conducting field trials and commercializing the Parent’s products in Brazil.

Basis of presentation	6 Months Ended
Basis of presentation	Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of presentation	Basis of presentation The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and its wholly owned direct subsidiaries, AQUA Bounty Canada Inc.; AquaBounty Panama, S. de R.L.; AquaBounty Farms, Inc.; AquaBounty Farms Indiana LLC; and AquaBounty Brasil Participações Ltda. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) consistent with those applied in, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company’s audited financial statements and related footnotes for the year ended December 31, 2017. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2018, and its results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented and are not necessarily indicative of results for subsequent interim periods or for the full year. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements, as allowed by the relevant SEC rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that its disclosures are adequate to ensure that the information presented is not misleading. Net loss per share Basic and diluted net loss per share available to common stockholders has been calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Basic net loss is based solely on the number of common shares outstanding during the period. Fully diluted net loss per share includes the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants and options with an exercise price less than the fair value of the common stock. Since the Company is reporting a net loss for all periods presented, all potential common shares are considered anti‑dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share. Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, “Leases,” which requires a lessee to recognize lease liabilities for the lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis, and right-of-use assets, representing the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, specified assets for the lease term. Additionally, the new guidance has simplified accounting for sale and leaseback transactions. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Details of this ASU are still being clarified, so the Company is continuing its evaluation of the impact on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-02, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income” which provides guidance on the impact to comprehensive income from changes due to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company is currently reviewing the guidance, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management does not expect any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards to have a material effect on its results of operations or financial condition. Liquidity and Management’s Plan At June 30, 2018, the Company’s cash balance totaled $3.5 million. Management has evaluated the Company’s cash resources as of August 1, 2018, in view of its planned spending for ongoing operations, capital expenditures, and working capital for the next twelve months and has determined that its current funds will be used by the end of December 2018 primarily due to increased working capital requirements. However, management believes that the Company can continue as a going concern. Management’s assessment is based on its belief that it is probable that the Company will be able to raise additional equity or debt to fund its requirements. Additionally, management has the ability to manage expenditures, including the slowing down, delaying, or halting of construction projects at our farm sites, in order to slow down spending to conserve the Company’s cash if there is a delay in obtaining new funding. Therefore, the accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

Risks and uncertainties	6 Months Ended
Risks and uncertainties	Jun. 30, 2018
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Risks and uncertainties	Risks and uncertainties The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common in the biotechnology and aquaculture industries. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) results from current and planned product development studies and trials; (ii) decisions made by the FDA or similar regulatory bodies in other countries with respect to approval and commercial sale of any of the Company’s proposed products; (iii) the commercial acceptance of any products approved for sale and the Company’s ability to manufacture, distribute, and sell for a profit any products approved for sale; (iv) the Company’s ability to obtain the necessary patents and proprietary rights to effectively protect its technologies; and (v) the outcome of any collaborations or alliances entered into by the Company. In addition, as disclosed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which was filed on March 8, 2018, there are a number of other risks and uncertainties that may have a material effect on the operating results of our business and our financial condition. Concentration of credit risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit. This risk is minimized by the Company’s policy of investing in financial instruments with short-term maturities issued by highly rated financial institutions. The Company’s cash balances may at times exceed insurance limitations. The Company holds cash balances in bank accounts located in Canada to fund its local operations. These amounts are subject to foreign currency exchange risk, which is mitigated by the Company’s policy to limit the balances held in these accounts. Balances in Canadian bank accounts totaled $191,536 at June 30, 2018. Financial instruments The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for other receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments. The carrying value of term debt approximates its fair value, since it provides for market terms and interest rates.

Inventory

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventory

Major classifications of inventory are summarized as follows:



	June 30,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Feed	$	49,674	$	60,161
Eggs	9,429		73,967
Packaging	8,913		—
Fish in process	14,413		38,235
Total inventory	$	82,429	$	172,363

Property, plant and equipment

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, plant and equipment

Major classifications of property, plant and equipment are summarized as follows:



	June 30,			December 31,
	2018			2017
Land	$	714,785		$	676,083
Building and improvements	9,316,101			9,187,160
Construction in process	5,562,148			5,119,961
Equipment	9,558,732			8,211,510
Office furniture and equipment	190,998			136,091
Vehicles	27,830			29,135
Total property and equipment	$	25,370,594		$	23,359,940
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,752,893		)	(1,556,964		)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	23,617,701		$	21,802,976

Depreciation and amortization expense was $266,794 and $84,717 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Included in construction in process is $5.3 million for renovation and new construction costs incurred at our Rollo Bay farm site. An additional $1.1 million has been committed. The grow-out building is expected to be completed by year end, and the broodstock building is expected to be completed during 2019.

On June 22, 2017, the Company purchased the aquaculture facility of Bell Fish Company LLC in Albany, Indiana, for $14.2 million, including legal and other expenses incurred. Through June 30, 2018, the Company has invested $1.9 million to upgrade the facility for use to grow out its AquAdvantage Salmon for harvest and sale in the United States. The Company currently has an additional $0.4 million committed to this project. This facility is now operational, although the Company expects that upgrades will continue through 2019.

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities include the following:



	June 30,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Accounts payable	$	526,228	$	1,089,919
Accrued payroll including vacation	257,281		364,368
Accrued professional fees and research costs	209,102		443,178
Accrued franchise and excise taxes	40,001		240,880
Accrued construction costs	99,901		509,950
Accrued other	36,362		18,560
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	1,168,875	$	2,666,855

Debt

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

The current material terms and conditions of debt outstanding are as follows:



Original loan amount	Interest rate	Monthly repayment	Maturity date	June 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
ACOA AIF grant (C$2,871,919)	0%	Royalties	-	$	2,185,243		$	2,287,771
ACOA term loan (C$337,000)	0%	C$3,120	June 2026	225,562			251,056
Kubota Canada Ltd. (C$95,961)	0%	C$1,142	January 2025	68,670			—
Finance PEI term loan (C$717,093)	4%	C$4,333	July 2021	511,475			545,387
Total debt				$	2,990,950		$	3,084,214
less: current portion				(58,377		)	(49,794		)
Long-term debt				$	2,932,573		$	3,034,420

Estimated principal payments remaining on loan debt are as follows:



Year	AIF		ACOA		FPEI		Kubota		Total
2018	$	—	$	14,244	$	9,604	$	5,215	$	29,063
2019	—		28,488		19,851		10,431		58,770
2020	—		28,488		20,659		10,431		59,578
2021	—		28,488		461,361		10,431		500,280
2022	—		28,488		—		10,431		38,919
Thereafter	2,185,243		97,366		—		21,731		2,304,340
Total	$	2,185,243	$	225,562	$	511,475	$	68,670	$	2,990,950

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (“ACOA”)

ACOA is a Canadian government agency that provides funding to support the development of businesses and promote employment in the Atlantic region of Canada.

In January 2009, the Canadian Subsidiary was awarded an Atlantic Innovation Fund (“AIF”) grant from ACOA to provide a contribution towards the funding of a research and development project. Contributions under the grant were made through 2014 and no further funds are available. Amounts claimed by the Canadian Subsidiary must be repaid in the form of a 10% royalty on any products that are commercialized out of this research project until the loan is fully repaid. Revenue from the sale of AquAdvantage Salmon are not subject to the royalty, and the Company does not expect to commercialize products that would be subject to the royalty in the next five years.

In February 2016, the Canadian Subsidiary executed an agreement with ACOA to partially finance the renovations to the Rollo Bay farm site. All available funding under the agreement was disbursed through May 2017, and no further amounts are available. The loan is being repaid over a period of nine years.

Kubota Canada Ltd. (“Kubota”)

Kubota is a manufacturer of power equipment for the construction, agriculture, commercial, and residential industries. In January 2018, the Canadian Subsidiary financed the purchase of equipment through a lease with Kubota. The total amount financed was $75,911 and is being repaid in monthly installments. The loan is secured by the underlying equipment.

Finance PEI (“FPEI”)

FPEI is a corporation of the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism for Prince Edward Island, Canada, and administers business financing programs for the provincial government. In August 2016, the Canadian Subsidiary obtained a loan from FPEI to partially finance the purchase of the assets of the former Atlantic Sea Smolt plant in Rollo Bay West on Prince Edward Island. The loan is being repaid through monthly payments of principal and interest with a balloon payment for the balance due in July 2021. The loan is collateralized by a mortgage executed by the Canadian Subsidiary, which conveys a first security interest in all of its current and acquired assets. The loan is guaranteed by the Parent.

The Company recognized interest expense of $10,613 and $10,523 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, on its interest-bearing debt.

Stockholders' equity

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' equity

Stockholders’ equity

In May 2018, the Company’s shareholders approved a reduction in the number of authorized shares of stock from 240 million to 55 million, of which 5 million are authorized as preferred stock and 50 million as common stock.

Recent issuances

In January 2018, the Company completed a public offering of 3,692,307 Common Shares and warrants for 4,246,153 Common Shares. Net proceeds to the Company were $10.6 million after deducting discounts, fees, and expenses. Intrexon Corporation, the Company’s majority shareholder, participated in the offering, purchasing 1,538,461 Common Shares and warrants for 1,538,461 Common Shares for gross proceeds of $5.0 million.

As of June 30, 2018, the Company has issued 249,824 Common Shares in conjunction with the exercise of warrants, with total proceeds of $811,928.

Warrants

In connection with a public offering of Common Shares that was completed in January 2018, the Company issued warrants to purchase 4,246,153 Common Shares. Each warrant has an exercise price per share of $3.25, is immediately exercisable, and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The following table summarizes information about outstanding warrants at June 30, 2018:



	Number of warrant shares		Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	—		$	—
Issued	4,246,153		3.25
Exercised	(249,824	)	3.25
Outstanding at June 30, 2018	3,996,329			$3.25
Exercisable at June 30, 2018	3,996,329			$3.25

Share-based compensation

Restricted stock

A summary of the Company’s unvested shares of restricted stock as of June 30, 2018, is as follows:



	Shares		Weighted average grant date fair value
Unvested at December 31, 2017	2,697			$11.37
Granted	11,151		2.50
Vested	(2,318	)	5.93
Unvested at June 30, 2018	11,530			$3.88

During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company expensed $13,664 and $12,070, respectively, related to the Chairman’s restricted stock awards. At June 30, 2018, the balance of unearned share-based compensation to be expensed in future periods related to the restricted stock awards is $44,649. The period over which the unearned share-based compensation is expected to be earned is approximately 2.7 years.

Stock options

The Company’s option activity is summarized as follows:



	Number of options		Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	227,203			$9.39
Issued	113,561		2.50
Expired	(800	)	9.90
Outstanding at June 30, 2018	339,964			$7.09
Exercisable at June 30, 2018	238,943			$7.76

Unless otherwise indicated, options issued to employees, members of the Board of Directors, and non-employees are vested over one to three years and are exercisable for a term of ten years from the date of issuance.

The weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2018, was $1.65. The total intrinsic value of all options outstanding was $96,636 and $17,454 at June 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively. The total intrinsic value of exercisable options was $34,141 and $17,454 at June 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about options outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2018:



Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options	Number of options outstanding	Weighted average remaining estimated life (in years)	Number of options exercisable	Weighted average exercise price of outstanding and exercisable options
$2.50 - $5.70	204,034	6.1	128,739
$6.90 - $9.60	53,175	4.2	53,175
$10.50 - $10.80	4,000	5.6	4,000
$14.20 - $23.40	78,755	7.7	53,029
	339,964		238,943	$7.76

Total share-based compensation on stock-option grants amounted to $106,425 and $36,682 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At June 30, 2018, the balance of unearned share-based compensation to be expensed in future periods related to unvested share-based awards was $240,916. The period over which the unearned share-based compensation is expected to be earned is approximately 1.7 years.

Commitments and contingencies	6 Months Ended
Commitments and contingencies	Jun. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and contingencies	Commitments and contingencies The Company recognizes and discloses commitments when it enters into executed contractual obligations with other parties. The Company accrues contingent liabilities when it is probable that future expenditures will be made and such expenditures can be reasonably estimated. In May 2018, the Company extended its lease for its Panama farm site for an additional twelve months with total rent payments of $180,000. See Note 5 for commitments related to our renovation and construction costs. There have been no other material changes to the commitments and contingencies disclosed in our annual report on Form 10‑K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Related Party Collaboration Agreement	6 Months Ended
Related Party Collaboration Agreement	Jun. 30, 2018
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Collaboration Agreement	Related Party Collaboration Agreement In February 2013, the Company entered into an Exclusive Channel Collaboration agreement (“ECC”) with Intrexon pursuant to which the Company will use Intrexon’s UltraVector and other technology platforms to develop and commercialize additional genetically modified traits in finfish for human consumption. Total Intrexon service costs incurred under the terms of this agreement for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, amounted to $136,041 and $315,116, respectively, and are included as a component of research and development expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities at June 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, are amounts due to Intrexon under the ECC totaling $18,000 and $135,301, respectively.

Basis of presentation (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Basis of presentation (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Consolidation	The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and its wholly owned direct subsidiaries, AQUA Bounty Canada Inc.; AquaBounty Panama, S. de R.L.; AquaBounty Farms, Inc.; AquaBounty Farms Indiana LLC; and AquaBounty Brasil Participações Ltda. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Basis of presentation	The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) consistent with those applied in, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company’s audited financial statements and related footnotes for the year ended December 31, 2017. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2018, and its results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented and are not necessarily indicative of results for subsequent interim periods or for the full year. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements, as allowed by the relevant SEC rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that its disclosures are adequate to ensure that the information presented is not misleading.
Net loss per share	Basic and diluted net loss per share available to common stockholders has been calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Basic net loss is based solely on the number of common shares outstanding during the period. Fully diluted net loss per share includes the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants and options with an exercise price less than the fair value of the common stock. Since the Company is reporting a net loss for all periods presented, all potential common shares are considered anti‑dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share.
Accounting Pronouncements	In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, “Leases,” which requires a lessee to recognize lease liabilities for the lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis, and right-of-use assets, representing the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, specified assets for the lease term. Additionally, the new guidance has simplified accounting for sale and leaseback transactions. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Details of this ASU are still being clarified, so the Company is continuing its evaluation of the impact on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-02, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income” which provides guidance on the impact to comprehensive income from changes due to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company is currently reviewing the guidance, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management does not expect any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards to have a material effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

Inventory (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Major classifications of inventory

Major classifications of inventory are summarized as follows:



	June 30,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Feed	$	49,674	$	60,161
Eggs	9,429		73,967
Packaging	8,913		—
Fish in process	14,413		38,235
Total inventory	$	82,429	$	172,363

Property, plant and equipment (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Major classifications of property, plant and equipment

Major classifications of property, plant and equipment are summarized as follows:



	June 30,			December 31,
	2018			2017
Land	$	714,785		$	676,083
Building and improvements	9,316,101			9,187,160
Construction in process	5,562,148			5,119,961
Equipment	9,558,732			8,211,510
Office furniture and equipment	190,998			136,091
Vehicles	27,830			29,135
Total property and equipment	$	25,370,594		$	23,359,940
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,752,893		)	(1,556,964		)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	23,617,701		$	21,802,976

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities include the following:



	June 30,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Accounts payable	$	526,228	$	1,089,919
Accrued payroll including vacation	257,281		364,368
Accrued professional fees and research costs	209,102		443,178
Accrued franchise and excise taxes	40,001		240,880
Accrued construction costs	99,901		509,950
Accrued other	36,362		18,560
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	1,168,875	$	2,666,855

Debt (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Material terms and conditions of outstanding debt

The current material terms and conditions of debt outstanding are as follows:



Original loan amount	Interest rate	Monthly repayment	Maturity date	June 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
ACOA AIF grant (C$2,871,919)	0%	Royalties	-	$	2,185,243		$	2,287,771
ACOA term loan (C$337,000)	0%	C$3,120	June 2026	225,562			251,056
Kubota Canada Ltd. (C$95,961)	0%	C$1,142	January 2025	68,670			—
Finance PEI term loan (C$717,093)	4%	C$4,333	July 2021	511,475			545,387
Total debt				$	2,990,950		$	3,084,214
less: current portion				(58,377		)	(49,794		)
Long-term debt				$	2,932,573		$	3,034,420

Estimated principal payments on loan debt

Estimated principal payments remaining on loan debt are as follows:



Year	AIF		ACOA		FPEI		Kubota		Total
2018	$	—	$	14,244	$	9,604	$	5,215	$	29,063
2019	—		28,488		19,851		10,431		58,770
2020	—		28,488		20,659		10,431		59,578
2021	—		28,488		461,361		10,431		500,280
2022	—		28,488		—		10,431		38,919
Thereafter	2,185,243		97,366		—		21,731		2,304,340
Total	$	2,185,243	$	225,562	$	511,475	$	68,670	$	2,990,950

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of long-debt instruments or arrangements, including identification, terms, features, collateral requirements and other information necessary to a fair presentation. These are debt arrangements that originally required repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the entity, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21506-112644

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e),(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21521-112644

Reference 7: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21538-112644

Reference 8: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

Reference 9: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 10: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21475-112644

+ Details

Stockholders' equity (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of outstanding warrants

The following table summarizes information about outstanding warrants at June 30, 2018:



	Number of warrant shares		Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	—		$	—
Issued	4,246,153		3.25
Exercised	(249,824	)	3.25
Outstanding at June 30, 2018	3,996,329			$3.25
Exercisable at June 30, 2018	3,996,329			$3.25

Schedule of restricted stock activity

A summary of the Company’s unvested shares of restricted stock as of June 30, 2018, is as follows:



	Shares		Weighted average grant date fair value
Unvested at December 31, 2017	2,697			$11.37
Granted	11,151		2.50
Vested	(2,318	)	5.93
Unvested at June 30, 2018	11,530			$3.88

Schedule of stock option activity

The Company’s option activity is summarized as follows:



	Number of options		Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	227,203			$9.39
Issued	113,561		2.50
Expired	(800	)	9.90
Outstanding at June 30, 2018	339,964			$7.09
Exercisable at June 30, 2018	238,943			$7.76

Summary of options outstanding and exercisable

The following table summarizes information about options outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2018:



Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options	Number of options outstanding	Weighted average remaining estimated life (in years)	Number of options exercisable	Weighted average exercise price of outstanding and exercisable options
$2.50 - $5.70	204,034	6.1	128,739
$6.90 - $9.60	53,175	4.2	53,175
$10.50 - $10.80	4,000	5.6	4,000
$14.20 - $23.40	78,755	7.7	53,029
	339,964		238,943	$7.76

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of warrants or rights issued. Warrants and rights outstanding are derivative securities that give the holder the right to purchase securities (usually equity) from the issuer at a specific price within a certain time frame. Warrants are often included in a new debt issue to entice investors by a higher return potential. The main difference between warrants and call options is that warrants are issued and guaranteed by the company, whereas options are exchange instruments and are not issued by the company. Also, the lifetime of a warrant is often measured in years, while the lifetime of a typical option is measured in months. Disclose the title of issue of securities called for by warrants and rights outstanding, the aggregate amount of securities called for by warrants and rights outstanding, the date from which the warrants or rights are exercisable, and the price at which the warrant or right is exercisable.

+ References + Details

Basis of presentation (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Cash balance	$ 3,518,806	$ 492,861	$ 7,991,382	$ 3,324,609

Risks and uncertainties (Details)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Concentration of credit risk \| Cash \| Canada
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Balance in Canadian bank accounts	$ 191,536

Inventory (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventory	$ 82,429	$ 172,363
Feed
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventory	49,674	60,161
Eggs
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventory	9,429	73,967
Packaging
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventory	8,913	0
Fish in process
Inventory [Line Items]
Inventory	$ 14,413	$ 38,235

Property, plant and equipment - Schedule of property, plant and equipment (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	$ 25,370,594	$ 23,359,940
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,752,893)	(1,556,964)
Property, plant and equipment, net	23,617,701	21,802,976
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	714,785	676,083
Building and improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	9,316,101	9,187,160
Construction in process
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	5,562,148	5,119,961
Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	9,558,732	8,211,510
Office furniture and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	190,998	136,091
Vehicles
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	$ 27,830	$ 29,135

Property, plant and equipment - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 22, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization expense		$ 266,794	$ 84,717
Construction in process		25,370,594		$ 23,359,940
Purchase of land, buildings, and equipment		3,039,177	$ 16,193,926
Capital Additions \| Rollo Bay farm site
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Amount committed to renovations		1,100,000
Capital Additions \| Bell Fish Company, LLC aquaculture facility
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Amount committed to renovations		400,000
Construction in process
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Construction in process		5,562,148		$ 5,119,961
Construction in process \| Rollo Bay farm site
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Construction in process		5,300,000
Construction in process \| Bell Fish Company, LLC aquaculture facility
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Construction in process		$ 1,900,000
Facility \| Bell Fish Company, LLC aquaculture facility
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Purchase of land, buildings, and equipment	$ 14,200,000

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accounts payable	$ 526,228	$ 1,089,919
Accrued payroll including vacation	257,281	364,368
Accrued professional fees and research costs	209,102	443,178
Accrued franchise and excise tax	40,001	240,880
Accrued construction costs	99,901	509,950
Accrued other	36,362	18,560
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$ 1,168,875	$ 2,666,855

Debt - Schedule of Debt (Details)	6 Months Ended
Debt - Schedule of Debt (Details)	Jun. 30, 2018 CAD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 CAD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Debt		$ 2,990,950		$ 3,084,214
less: current portion		(58,377)		(49,794)
Long-term debt		2,932,573		3,034,420
ACOA AIF Grant (C$2,871,919)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Debt		2,185,243
ACOA term loan (C$337,000)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Debt		225,562
Kubota Canada Ltd (C$95,961)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Debt		68,670
Finance PEI term loan (C$717,093)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Debt		$ 511,475
Government grant \| ACOA AIF Grant (C$2,871,919)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original loan amount	$ 2,871,919		$ 2,871,919
Interest rate	0.00%	0.00%
Total Debt		$ 2,185,243		2,287,771
Term loan \| ACOA term loan (C$337,000)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original loan amount	$ 337,000
Interest rate	0.00%	0.00%
Monthly repayment	$ 3,120
Total Debt		$ 225,562		251,056
Term loan \| Kubota Canada Ltd (C$95,961)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original loan amount	$ 95,961	$ 75,911
Interest rate	0.00%	0.00%
Monthly repayment	$ 1,142
Total Debt		$ 68,670		0
Term loan \| Finance PEI term loan (C$717,093)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original loan amount	$ 717,093		$ 717,093
Interest rate	4.00%	4.00%
Monthly repayment	$ 4,333
Total Debt		$ 511,475		$ 545,387

Debt - Debt Maturities (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Year
2018	$ 29,063
2019	58,770
2020	59,578
2021	500,280
2022	38,919
Thereafter	2,304,340
Total	2,990,950	$ 3,084,214
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency AIF Grant
Year
2018	0
2019	0
2020	0
2021	0
2022	0
Thereafter	2,185,243
Total	2,185,243
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Term Loan
Year
2018	14,244
2019	28,488
2020	28,488
2021	28,488
2022	28,488
Thereafter	97,366
Total	225,562
PEI Finance Term Loan
Year
2018	9,604
2019	19,851
2020	20,659
2021	461,361
2022	0
Thereafter	0
Total	511,475
Kubota Canada Ltd
Year
2018	5,215
2019	10,431
2020	10,431
2021	10,431
2022	10,431
Thereafter	21,731
Total	$ 68,670

Debt - Additional Information (Details)	1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Debt - Additional Information (Details)	Feb. 29, 2016	Jan. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 CAD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 CAD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest expense on debt			$ 10,613	$ 10,523
Government grant \| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency AIF Grant
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Royalty (as a percent)		10.00%
Acquisition of equipment under debt agreement					$ 2,871,919		$ 2,871,919
Term loan \| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument term (in years)	9 years
Acquisition of equipment under debt agreement					337,000
Term loan \| Kubota Canada Ltd
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Acquisition of equipment under debt agreement					$ 95,961	$ 75,911

Stockholders' equity - Reduction of Authorized Shares (Details) - shares	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized Shares of Common Stock	50,000,000	200,000,000
Original Number of Shares Authorized [Member]
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized Shares of Common and Preferred Stock	240,000,000
Current Number of Shares Authorized [Member]
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized Shares of Common and Preferred Stock	55,000,000
Authorized Shares of Preferred Stock	5,000,000
Authorized Shares of Common Stock	50,000,000

Stockholders' equity - Recent Issuances (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018
Warrant
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issued (in shares)		4,246,153
Exercise of warrants for common stock (in shares)		249,824
January 2018 Public Offering
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Proceeds from warrant exercises		$ 811,928
Proceeds from public offering	$ 10,600,000
Exercise of warrants for common stock (in shares)		249,824
January 2018 Public Offering \| Warrant
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issued (in shares)	4,246,153
Common Stock \| January 2018 Public Offering
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issued (in shares)	3,692,307
Intrexon Corporation \| January 2018 Public Offering
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Proceeds from public offering	$ 5,000,000
Intrexon Corporation \| January 2018 Public Offering \| Warrant
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issued (in shares)	1,538,461
Intrexon Corporation \| Common Stock \| January 2018 Public Offering
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Issued (in shares)	1,538,461

Stockholders' equity - Warrants (Details) - Warrant	6 Months Ended
Stockholders' equity - Warrants (Details) - Warrant	Jun. 30, 2018 $ / shares shares
Number of options
Outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	0.00
Issued (in shares)	4,246,153
Exercised (in shares)	(249,824)
Outstanding, ending balance (in shares)	3,996,329
Exercisable (in shares)	3,996,329
Weighted average exercise price
Issues (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 3.25
Exercised (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	3.25
Outstanding, ending balance (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	3.25
Exercisable (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 3.25

Stockholders' equity - Restricted stock activity (Details) - Restricted Stock	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 $ / shares shares
Shares
Unvested, beginning balance (in shares) \| shares	2,697
Granted (in shares) \| shares	11,151
Vested (in shares) \| shares	(2,318)
Unvested, ending balance (in shares) \| shares	11,530
Weighted average grant date fair value
Unvested, beginning balance (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 11.37
Granted (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	2.50
Vested (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	5.93
Unvested, ending balance (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 3.88

Stockholders' equity - Stock option activity (Details)	6 Months Ended
Stockholders' equity - Stock option activity (Details)	Jun. 30, 2018 $ / shares shares
Number of options
Outstanding, beginning balance (in shares) \| shares	227,203
Issued (in shares) \| shares	113,561
Expired (in shares) \| shares	800
Outstanding, ending balance (in shares) \| shares	339,964
Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	238,943
Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding, beginning balance (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 9.39
Issued (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	2.50
Expired ( in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	9.90
Outstanding, ending balance (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	7.09
Exercisable (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 7.76

Stockholders' equity - Summary of options outstanding and exercisable (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 $ / shares shares
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Number of options outstanding (in shares)	339,964
Number of options exercisable (in shares)	238,943
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding and exercisable options (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 7.76
$2.50 - $5.70
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Number of options outstanding (in shares)	204,034
Weighted average remaining estimated life (in years)	6 years 1 month 6 days
Number of options exercisable (in shares)	128,739
$6.90 - $9.60
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Number of options outstanding (in shares)	53,175
Weighted average remaining estimated life (in years)	4 years 2 months 12 days
Number of options exercisable (in shares)	53,175
$10.50 - $10.80
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Number of options outstanding (in shares)	4,000
Weighted average remaining estimated life (in years)	5 years 7 months 6 days
Number of options exercisable (in shares)	4,000
$14.20 - $23.40
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Number of options outstanding (in shares)	78,755
Weighted average remaining estimated life (in years)	7 years 8 months 12 days
Number of options exercisable (in shares)	53,029
Minimum \| $2.50 - $5.70
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted average price of outstanding options (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 2.50
Minimum \| $6.90 - $9.60
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted average price of outstanding options (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	6.90
Minimum \| $10.50 - $10.80
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted average price of outstanding options (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	10.50
Minimum \| $14.20 - $23.40
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted average price of outstanding options (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	14.20
Maximum \| $2.50 - $5.70
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted average price of outstanding options (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	5.70
Maximum \| $6.90 - $9.60
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted average price of outstanding options (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	9.60
Maximum \| $10.50 - $10.80
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted average price of outstanding options (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	10.80
Maximum \| $14.20 - $23.40
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted average price of outstanding options (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 23.40

Stockholders' equity - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.65
Intrinsic value of options outstanding	$ 96,636		$ 17,454
Intrinsic value of options exercisable	34,141		$ 17,454
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unearned share-based compensation expense	$ 44,649
Period of recognition	2 years 8 months 12 days
Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Allocated share-based compensation expense	$ 106,425	$ 36,682
Period of recognition	1 year 8 months 12 days
Expiration period	10 years
Unearned share-based compensation expense to be expensed in future periods	$ 240,916
Employee Stock Option \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	1 year
Employee Stock Option \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	3 years
Chairman \| Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Allocated share-based compensation expense	$ 13,664	$ 12,070

Commitments and contingencies - Lease Information (Details)	May 31, 2018 USD ($)
Panama Farm [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Rent payments due over next twelve months	$ 180,000

Related Party Collaboration Agreement (Details) - Intrexon Corporation - ECC Agreement - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$ 18,000		$ 135,301
Research and Development Expense
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service costs incurred	$ 136,041	$ 315,116