Seven European countries have been asked to co-operate closely in the field of sustainable food when they meet in The Hague next month.

Gerda Verburg, Dutch minister for agriculture, nature and food quality, announced the move at the opening of the second edition of the international seminar Future of Food in London.

In May, the directors of the ministries responsible for food in Denmark, Germany, France, the UK, Spain and Sweden will gather together for the first time, in a meeting chaired by the Netherlands.

The countries will compare notes on sustainable food production and determine common objectives and the government resources in place for achieving sustainable production and consumption.

The role of Europe and the European Commission will also be addressed, as minister Verburg believes co-ordinated international efforts are required to achieve sustainable food production.

In her speech, minister Verburg said the international dimension of the food system is key when the role of banks and retailers in the international food system is discussed.

Retailers are on the right track, prompted by a growing group of consumers who want sustainable products, according to Verburg,

She also said the financial sector can play a decisive role and she referred to the ING report on what it calls "the third industrial revolution" which deals with multi-committed companies (MCCs). A growing number of company strategies focus not only on profit, but also on human rights, good governance and responsible use of raw materials.

She said: "What is remarkable about these MCCs is that they usually have a higher market value than comparable companies with lower scores for corporate responsibility."

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