A former Kansas agriculture secretary has joined the Land Institute, which seeks to create a new sustainable agriculture that minimizes environmental damage.

Josh Svaty, a farmer from Ellsworth County, former state lawmaker and state agriculture secretary from 2009 through 2011, joined the Land Institute on Monday as a vice president. He’ll work on public policy issues, promote the institute’s pursuit of natural systems agriculture and raise money.

Land Institute founder and president, Wes Jackson, says Svaty can pull from his wide area of public experience in furthering the goals of the Salina-based Land Institute.

A native of Ellsworth County, Svaty served three full terms in the Kansas House. He resigned during his fourth term to take the job as Kansas Secretary of Agriculture.

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Associated Press information from: The Salina Journal