Pinion is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Averum, has achieved formal accreditation by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to ISO/IEC 17021‑1 for the certification of management systems, including multi‑site operations.

“This achievement reflects the continual investment in our people, processes, and governance and reinforces our commitment to deliver trusted assurance for the food and ag sector,” said Matt Armstrong, Lead Advisor at Averum.

Most notably, Averum is now authorized to issue ANAB‑accredited certifications to the Leading Harvest Farmland Management Standard and is the first formally accredited certification body for Leading Harvest.

ISO/IEC 17021‑1 is the global benchmark for management system certification bodies, establishing rigorous requirements for competence, independence, and consistency in certification decisions.

What This Means for Food & Ag Businesses

For organizations already certified by Averum—or considering certification—ANAB accreditation delivers meaningful benefits:

  • Greater market credibility and recognition: Accredited certifications are backed by ANAB and aligned with international accreditation frameworks, supporting acceptance by customers, investors, regulators, and supply‑chain partners.
  • Stronger assurance and impartiality: Accreditation confirms that Averum’s certification processes meet strict requirements for independence, auditor competence, and integrity in decision making.
  • Consistency across multi‑site operations: ISO/IEC 17021‑1 formally recognizes Averum’s ability to certify complex, multi-location organizations under a single, robust management system.
  • Future‑ready certifications: Accredited certifications are well positioned to meet evolving stakeholder expectations and emerging regulatory or buyer requirements that increasingly specify accredited conformity assessments.

Organizations evaluating ANAB‑accredited certification, including Leading Harvest, can connect with Averum to better understand how accredited assurance can strengthen their sustainability, risk management, and assurance programs.