Mapping the Organic Sector—Spatiality of Value-Chain Actors Based on Certificates in Bavaria

Organic farming is attributed to environmental, economic, and social benefits, which is why its expansion is anchored in policy objectives on various scales. Its development is typically assessed in terms of number of farms or production volume. We argue that the importance of comprehensive spatial assessments of various actors in the adjacent value chain is being overlooked. This study addresses this gap by using data from EU organic certificates to map the spatial distribution of the organic sector in Bavaria, Germany. By analyzing the distribution at the district level, we uncover different patterns and reveal the uneven presence of actor groups across the region. Our findings illustrate the complexity of the sector, highlighting the need for multi-actor analysis to capture the interwoven dynamics and factors influencing the successful development of the organic sector and the benefits attributed to it. The resulting maps point to different networks of actors, indicating a heterogeneous local development potential. In addition, we examined cross-actor relationships at the district level. Correlation and ratio analyses show strong clustering among downstream actors (processors, trade, importers), marked rural–urban asymmetries, and a close alignment of producer and processor densities once normalized by agricultural area. These insights move beyond descriptive mapping and provide an analytical basis for assessing interdependencies in the organic value chain. They enable the identification of development potentials and shortcomings so that more targeted measures in rural and environmental policies can be implemented. Further research on interactions and the potential for influence through multi-scalar politics and regional planning appears of great value.