The invention discloses a starch based nanometer photocatalytic composite degrading modifying agent. The modifying agent is prepared by carrying out melt blending on the following raw materials, wherein the raw materials comprise, by weight, 72-87 parts of starch, 10-25 parts of polyvinyl alcohol, 10-20 parts of a small molecular plasticizer, 0.2-2 parts of a modified inorganic nanometer additive, and 0.5-1.5 parts of an antioxidant, wherein the modified inorganic nanometer additive is prepared by carrying out a surface lipophilic modification treatment on at least a material selected from anatase type nano-titanium dioxide, mixed crystal type nano-titanium dioxide and nano-cerium oxide through a silane coupling agent. The present invention further discloses a preparation method for the starch based nanometer photocatalytic composite degrading modifying agent. According to the present invention, the starch based nanometer photocatalytic composite degrading modifying agent of the present invention is adopted to modify the polymer material, such that the complete biodegradability can be achieved; the high content starch is added to the system, such that the cost of the final productcan be substantially reduced; with the added nanometer additive, it is ensured that the product has good physical and mechanical properties; the agent and the method of the present invention can be used for modifying preparations of various disposable plastic products, mulch films, supermarket plastic packaging bags, and the like.