Salina ? The managing director of the Land Institute in Salina is retiring after presiding over substantial growth of the organization that develops and promotes environmentally friendly agriculture.

Ken Warren will resign “no later than June 30” and will be replaced by Scott Seirer, former executive editor of the Salina Journal, the newspaper reported Friday.

When Warren began working at the institute 16 years ago, it had a budget of about $500,000. Now, the institute’s budget is closer to $2.3 million.

“This organization has always been my mistress, and unlike many mistresses, it looks better with age,” Warren said. “There’s more and more research being done here — I’ve witnessed great growth in the research here.”

Warren plans to move the Manhattan with his wife, Dr. Nina Ainslie, who has been named medical director of a brain trauma clinic at Fort Riley.

Seirer has already started work at the Land Institute and is trying to learn as much as he can before Warren leaves.

“Ken describes (the job) as the glue that holds the place together,” Seirer said. “Oversight of the budget, purchasing, overall management, giving tours — we’ve had several of those already this week — and speaking engagements and a PR role.”

Seirer said The Land Institute is a special place.

“It’s got a great atmosphere, and they do really serious work that has ramifications for mankind’s future — yet it’s a very relaxed, warm, friendly environment.”

The Land Institute was founded in 1976 by Wes Jackson with the goal of building an agriculture system that mimics nature as much as possible.