The New World Carniolan (NWC) breeding program was founded in 1982, based on the Page-Laidlaw Closed Population Breeding concept. It was created to select and maintain a Carniolan honey bee population that provides quality queens to the industry. Initially established at Vaca Valley Apiaries in California by Susan Cobey and Tim Lawrence (1981–1990), the program later moved with Cobey to The Ohio State University (1990–2007), University of California, Davis (2007–2012), and Washington State University (2010–2023). This progression allowed the program to serve as a teaching model and focus more intensively on breeding.
The NWC program was designed to offer an alternative to the popular Italian honey bees, which were difficult to maintain in the U.S. due to the dominance of Italian bees and drones diluting Carniolan traits. Stocks with Carniolan backgrounds were collected across the U.S. and Canada, and through instrumental insemination and backcrossing, the New World Carniolan strain was established. Over time, these industrious and elegant bees have become highly regarded.

Mentored by experts such as Drs. Robert Page and Harry H. Laidlaw, and trained by Dr. Harry Laidlaw and Dr. John Harbo, the program applied the theory of Closed Population Breeding. The NWC population developed uniform dark coloration, gentle temperament, rapid spring buildup, reduced late-season brood, excellent wintering ability with low consumption, and increased resistance to pests and diseases—traits favored especially by northern beekeepers. Today, the NWC is an industry standard.