Upon Further Reflection...

I think the "plant ethicists" are secretly awaiting the arrival of our New Vegetative Overlords, some kind of sentient plant from outer space.

Honestly, their arrival would do a couple of interesting things:

• Monsanto would become the largest US Military supplier (thus guaranteeing that the US Military would save the world, AGAIN)
  
• "Plant Ethicists" could finally have something somewhat useful to say

Following which, we could solve a couple of the world's problems:

• Feed POWs from the intergalactic war through Salad Shooters, and alleviate world hunger
• Feed Plant Ethicists through meat grinders, and reduce the food bill for lions for zoos around the world.

Hey, everybody wins! Well, except for the Intergalactic Green Beans, and the Plant Ethicists.... but who cares about them, anyway?