The use of genetically modified crops has been growing rapidly since they first sprouted up a decade ago — and 2005 was no exception.  According to an article in the Washington Post, a new global biotech report found the amount of acres devoted to GM crops grew 11 percent last year, to a total of over 220 million acres.  Small cotton farmers in particular like the technology, since they can grow more cotton while using less pesticides.  And perhaps most significant of all is that widespread acceptance of GM rice may soon be in the offing, which would put agricultural biotech in the hands of tens of millions of small rice farmers who produce nearly half the calories eaten by the entire human race.