Farmers are struggling to keep crops from withering on the vine thanks to a severe drought affecting more than 4.5% of the continental United States ― and turning on the sprinklers could make the problem worse. California, which grows two-thirds of our fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts, experienced a drought that lasted from 2011 to March 2019. The World Resources Institute estimates that more than 25% of the world’s crops are grown in regions with high water stress (we’re looking at you, California almonds). “The shift toward more meat-based diets is becoming a major problem that puts pressure on water resources around the world,” said Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute, a nonprofit focused on finding solutions to worldwide water challenges.