He helped build Rice Energy, sold it to EQT, then won a shareholder fight to run the buyer. For Toby Rice, the exit turned out to be an entrance.

Raised in New Zealand’s dairy country, the synthetic biologist co-founded Number 8 Bio to turn lost feed energy into a reason for farmers to cut methane. His route from yeast research to grazing trials has required a willingness to change the science without losing sight of the farm.